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Thursday, March 9. 1989 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Showing U.S. flag on floor raises patriotic questions
If an American fig touches the floor, it must be burned.
Isn't that what children have been taught in scouts for years?
But what if the flag is put on the floor on purpose, as part of an art display? What about when it comes down to choosing between the First Amendment and the traditions of honoring the flag?
On the side of the First Amendment, the School of the Art Institute in Chicago has an art exhibit called, "What is the Proper Way to Display the U.S. Flag?" The exhibit consists of photographs and an American flag positioned on the floor in front so that the museum-goer must stand on the flag to view the photographs.
worth protecting at war. Police made an example of one woman who went to see the display and arrested her for desecration of the flag. Arrested for looking at an art display. Arrested for stepping on the flag. Implanted cubes.
On the side of honoring the flag, protests of the display have been loud and are not subsiding. The protesters, led by Vietnam veterans, say that a flag worth protecting overseas is worthy protect at home.
Patriotism is a complicated subject.
As noble as patriotism may be, can it be legislated? Can we who are free tell others that they must show respect to the symbols of that freedom?
Most U.S. citizens probably wouldn't step on their nation's flag. Many would be offended by the exhibit or would choose not to look at the photographs if it meant stepping on the flag Others would step right up and see the photographs. Many others would protest.
It is, after all, a free country. Where else but in the United States could this exhibit and protest have happened?
And all would be justified in their actions.
This nation has paid a high price for the freedoms it offers The price continues to be paid each time one free citizen is offended by the actions of a fellow free citizen
For freedom means we must be tolerant
Karen Boring for the editorial board
In other circumstances chairman of the Republican National Committee Lee Atwater would seem to be a respected, worthy member of a board of trustees. But to students at Howard University, one of the country's most prominent black universities, he was an embarrassment.
Students prove that blacks won't tolerate racist tactics
Atwater's management of Bush's presidential campaign was frequently accused by Democrat and minority groups of being racist and pandering to anti-black sentiment. The most controversial campaign tactic was the Willie Horton commercial, which referred to a black man who was released on turbough while Michael Dukakis was governor of Massachusetts. Horton, who was in jail for murder, committed more crimes during his furglery.
The protest now has become an embarrassment for Alwater and the Republican Party. The Republican Party has traditionally had an image problem with blacks. Now there are serious questions of how successfully the GOP chairman will achieve his goal of attracting black voters to the party.
More than 250 students participated in a two-day sit-in at Howard, barricading the school's main administration building. Last week, hundreds of students disrupted a convoction ceremony causing actor Bill Cosby to cancel his speech scheduled for that night. And nearly 2,000 students rallied later in protest of Atwater's position on the board.
The demonstrations worked; Atwater announced his resignation Tuesday.
The demonstrations by Howard students prove many things. In one respect it proves that a peaceful means of protest can be effective and successful. It also is an example of how students can influence the way their school's upper management is handled. More importantly, it shows that the black community will not tolerate racist tactics.
Any way you look at it, the Republican Party is paying for its campaign strategy. The Horton ad may have helped them win the election, but the election is over.
Jennifer Hinkle for the editorial board
News staff
Julie Adam...Editor
Karen Boring...Managing editor
Jill Jess...News editor
Deb Gruver...Planning editor
James Fuarquh...Editorial editor
Elaine Sung...Campus editor
Tom Stinson...Sports editor
Janine Swiatkowski...Photo editor
Diane Eames...Graphics editor
Noel Gerdes...Arts/Features editor
Tom Eblen...General manager, news adviser
Business staff
Debra Cole...Business manager
Pam Noe...Retail sales manager
Kevin Martin...Campus sales manager
Scott Finger...National sales manager
Michelle Garland...Promotions manager
Brad Lenhart...Marketing manager
Linda Prokop...Production manager
Debra Martin..Asst. production manager
Kim Coleman...Co-op sales manager
Curt Carson...Glassware manager
Jeanne Hines...Sales and marketing adviser
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Spring Break possibilities abound
spring Break. It's known universally as a time that college students pack up and take off to anywhere, so long as it is away from the classroom. Many
students use it as a time to relax and enjoy free time, while others set out to accomplish feats such as beer-bonging six beers at once or perfecting their baleony diving. Regardless, it's something we all look forward to. And leaving Lawrence isn't tough, but once you hit the turnpike you have a destination. Where are you looking for Spring Break 1989? Let's take a look at some of a KU student's possibilities.
**The Meat Markets:** South Padre Island and Davtona Beach.
I think the Miller Lite insert in the Feb. 15 Kansas summed up best. These places definitely deserve to have their names changed to Meat, Texas, and Market, Fla. This is a yearly gathering of a lot folks who have two common goals: scamming and partying. If you disagree, you either have them there or are going for the these historic landmark created the setting for tons of teen "sexploitiation" flicks and each year provide the backdrop for nearly 20 percent of all freshmen claiming to have lost their virginity. Note: If MTV isn't there, you're in the wrong place.
Scott
Matthews
Staff columnist
Skiing:
Skidde
I know how to ski? Who cares? How do you look in the chalet with ski pants on? It's a great trip if you can afford it and you know how to ski. And this is a pretty good trip if you can't afford it, know how to ski and have a lot of friends to mooch off in Denver. If you know how to ski, get some pictures of you doing your death-defying antics. If you don't know how to
ski, get a picture of yourself at the top of a black-diamond run, and then slide down it on your rear end.
I'm going with Daddy:
All right, those are trips that everyone would like to take, but they're not the only ones available. Maybe you're on a tight budget or have to rely on unreliable transportation. Being that you are at an institution of higher learning, you should be able to find something that will entertain you that's not under the sun. Sure, Florida would be great, but there are some exciting alternatives:
**Bob Wilkinson Domestics**
Bud Wilkinson Dormitory, Norman, Okla.: This is for all you adventurous types. Visit the home of the Oklahoma Sooners, Big Eight powerhouses on the field and in the courtroom. Try to walk from one end of this building to the other
without being shot, beat up, having drugs pushed on you or watching an illegal cash payment going down. Life-insurance policies and legal counsel were provided for this trip. ( folks. Approximate cost. $40.)
This is the type of trip that you are embarrassed to tell people about. You are either jetted out of the country with Mom and Dad or you are piling the family into the old station wagon and go to Indiana to visit Aunt Gertie. What's the difference? You are either sharing a drink with Sophie under the Eifel Tower or you are choking down your fourth glass of prune juice with Aunt Gertie. And you thought Meister Brau was rough.
- Any small town in Kansas with a population of less than 500.
Be a town celebrity for one day. Walk around this town and receive puzzled looks from everyone. There is a special treat to those who prefer not to shave or shower during their stay. If you walk main street enough, you'll get to meet the town Sheriff! Barbershops are a special point of interest that will guarantee that your name is printed in the "Just passing through town" section of the weekly newspaper. Approximate cost: $6
Hometown, USA:
Great food, free laundry and a kiss from Mom. What more could you ask for? Maybe this is the year to spend a good week getting to know that little brother, sister, family pet or parent better. Approximate cost: $0. You may even make money if you take enough supplies from home or hit Mom and Dad up for some cash.
Spring Break is always nice, and if it's economically possible it can be great. I recommend that everyone go somewhere nice at least once. But not everyone can afford it. So when your friends see you on campus and you have a great tan, don't tell them where you went because they probably don't want to know. And if you don't go anywhere, but you sit under a sun lamp here in Lawrence for the effect that you did, you definitely will go to hell.
■ Scott Mathews is a Mathomedi, Minn., sophomore maloring in journalism.
Legalize marijuana
As long as people want to alter their state of consciousness with drugs, a desire that has always been with us, a supply will be made available. The capitalism that Americans hold dear is rampant and undeniable. Making a drug illegal does not remove it or allow it to become normalizing natural behavior can only precipitate violence and arbitrary incarceration.
Allowing "good" social drug use while advocating and enforcing the prevention of "bad" drug use is hypocritical. It supposes that legislators know absolutely which states of consciousness are okay for people and that our lawmakers have right to make those personal decisions.
Imposing such moral judgments denies the freedom to choose lifestyle and the supposed inalienable right of personal decision regarding the use of the only thing one can truly own the body. Where will these moral dictators their cruseus to arbitrate proper behavior?
Frank Zappa said, "This is the 20th century;
whatever you can do to have a good time, let's get on with it so long as it doesn't cause a murder." If prevention of death is truly the concern of an attempt to limit some drug use by litigation, why are alcohol and tobacco legal? Certainly use of those substances leads to high numbers of deaths each year by overdose, vehicular manglelaugh and lung cancer. Warnings given by the gurus of medicine are considered sufficient, and individuals are allowed to make educated decisions to use drugs that substantially sanctioned drugs. Why should marijuana use, which entails substantially fewer negative effects, be any different?
Paul J. Dupuy Jr.
Vancouver, British Columbia, senior
Paul J. Dupuy Jr
Shoddy journalism
it is fortunate when a newspaper practices poor journalism. Excellence means checking facts, hearing both sides of an issue, providing a balanced and accurate account of a story, and not setting an agenda that only serves the newspaper's interests.
I recently wrote a letter to the editor regarding the article "Tenants want out of contract." After reading it, I was under the impression that the University of Kansas was employing a slumlord. After talking to Charles
Himmelberg, the owner of the house, I learned that the University Daily Kansan practiced shoddy journalism in investigating the story.
Himmelmeyer was spoken to only briefly over the telephone. The Kansan did not elicit a response from him about his efforts to keep the house up to code and failed to point out his good faith work to see that the students were not ripped in. Conveniently, only half of the
sorry was too.
I must take the blame also. I was the one foolish enough to read the article and actually believe its contents.
Jon Gregor
Leavenworth junior
Not a waste of money
I would like to see the Kansas editorial board tell the parents of a KU student who dies of AIDS that Student Senate is "wasting money" on condoms for AIDS education and prevention that might save someone's life. Of 27,000 students, if we save even one life, the money was well spent.
Laura Ambler Lawrence senior
BLOOM COUNTY
by Berke Breathed