4A
Wednesday, April 26, 1995
OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
THE ISSUE: RESPONDING TO TERRORISM
Abyss beckons after tragedy
We must fight terrorism. But we must do it carefully.
As thousands of families and friends mourn the loss of loved ones in the Oklahoma City federal building blast, we are seeing the political equivalent of a fight response.
We have been asleep, the bipartisan force from Washington cries. We have not been vigilant enough, wary of the violence and destruction possible at the hands of our own citizens. We must pass anti-terrorism legislation, and we must pass it now.
"Terrorists — both foreign and domestic — should have no doubt that partisanship... stops at evil's edge — an edge those responsible for the Oklahoma City bombings have clearly stepped over," Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole said early this week.
As we stand evil's edge, looking into the ravine where the remains of the Oklahoma City tragedy and those responsible for it lie, we should remember to keep our balance so that we do not fall over the edge ourselves.
We need to protect our freedoms in the war against terrorism, but we should not stoop to police-state tactics.
Legislators, the FBI and any other groups involved in the tracking down and bringing to justice conspirators against this nation, domestic or international, assert that the laws for the fight against terrorism create a legal labyrinth, that the laws hamper investigators.
In many cases, this is true. Our leaders must be careful, though, not to confuse action with tyranny. The squelching of terrorism is paramount in this age of fringe groups capable of killing innocent citizens, but we must not suppress legitimate dissent, lest this nation lose freedom of speech, one of the principles on which it was founded.
The possibility of police-state tactics would only further inflame those who use artillery as a mouthpiece and may strike at innocent victims, just as terrorists do.
MATT GOWEN FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
THE ISSUE: THE ECONOMIC GAP
U.S. income gap gets wider
The Gingrich Congress should pay attention to the economic statistics released last week. The financial health of the nation may depend on what these statistics show.
These statistics show that the income gap between rich and poor in U.S. society is the largest among the industrialized nations and has been growing since the 1970s.
The most recent statistics available show that in 1989 the wealthiest 20 percent of U.S. households outearned those in the lowest 20 percent by a ratio of nearly 11-to-1. This same 20 percent possesses 80 percent of this country's wealth. In comparison, Britain's wealthiest have seen their part of the pie steadily dwindle since the early 1920s. In Finland, the poorest 20 percent earn about twice what their U.S. counterparts do.
Of course, not all inequality is detrimental to a nation's economy. In a market economy, competition among those who have the means to compete ensures the most beneficial and efficient results. The survival of the fittest tends to promote the production of the next Thomas Edison or Bill Gates.
Statistics show that the gap between rich and poor continues to grow; maybe it's not a good time for cuts.
a good time for cuts.
However, asking those who don't have the resources or abilities to compete on the same playing field as the wealthy is Darwinian economics taken one step too far. While everyone loves an underdog, this practice falls under a different category — the tyranny of the majority. This tyranny results in increased alienation, crime and violence among the least fortunate.
To begin solving these problems, we do not need to build more prisons, nor implement new taxes. The Gingrich Congress should realize that cutting programs such as welfare without reforming them will only leave these trends intact.
JOHN COLLAR FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
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lingo). He proceeded to tell them, at their level, about having two lives and only one death because Jesus had one death and died a death for all of us. Or something like that. I didn't catch the last part because I was still trying to figure out the math on the two lives and one death part. I didn't know if Jesus had gotten us one hell of a deal at Sam's Club or I failed spiritual calculus. Probably the latter.
When the preacher finished up with the kids, he repeated his story with a little more oomph to the adults. He threw in a little "according to Mark" and "in the book of John" stuff. He went through the whole saga of Christ dying on the cross, Christ hanging out in the cave for three days, Christ coming out, seeing his shadow and going back in, and then getting warm spiritual weather for the next several thousand years. I'm mixing up my Stories...
Campus mgr ...Beth Pots
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Anyway, the Methodist gig went pretty well. Nice people. I like the idea of getting out to different buildings and meeting different folks. Next time, Christmas, I think a Baptist service might be a good idea. I understand a lot of singing goes on, but I'll just be very quiet, move my lips and smile a lot.
Easter service is the chance to start Christmas shopping
I went to Easter services at a local Methodist church. The visit satisfied the second half of my obligation to attend the yearly birth/re-birth concert series given by Christ and his worldwide representatives.
Like many of the younger (under 30) crowd who make the Christmas/Easter pilgrimages to a local House O'God, my face had that look of embarrassment and fear. The embarrassment surfaced because all the regular church-goin' folk knew that my appearance satisfied little more than a weak attempt to keep my actor's guild card by making a cameo appearance in the year's big-budget film.
Call it the Michael Caine predicament.
The event gave me that deer-caught-in-the-headlights look because I am young and recruitable. Older folks dominate the roster of any congregation, so an appearance by a youngster spills blood into the water. They circle slowly for the kill, whispering, "Let's bring him into the flock; he's here because he has lost his way."
My appearance at a Methodist service should shock no one other than my mother. Mom would be startled because she knows of my fear of entering a church unmarried and leaving married. Mom also would wonder at my choice of buildings because she worked so hard to
raise me Catholic. Actually, the Catholic Church now would consider me a lapsed Catholic.
"Lapsed" is the polite way of saying that I never attend Mass though the Church, Inc. put out a lot of time and effort to doctinate me. Easter gave me my first exposure to the Methodist Church. After years of Catholicism with it
John Martin is a Lawrence first-year law student.
strict aerobics of standing, kneeling, genuflecting, sitting and promenading. I appreciated the less stressful physical demands of standing for an occasional hymn. I gladly embraced the more informal atmosphere. This particular Methodist church held all the formality of a family reunion. We shook a lot of hands, talked a bit, and from time to time, we stood up and sang (without me – I can't even hold a tune when I hum).
The best part of the service was the kiddie story hour in the beginning of the service. All the little folks went up to the front where they sat around the preacher or pastor or man o' the cloth (please excuse my ignorance of the exact Methodist
much debate, the board votes on the position it will take on the issue. As a board member, you would attend two meetings each week and write at least one editorial per week. It is not required that you be a journalism major, in fact we want students who are of all majors and backgrounds. After all, the board works best when it represents a cross-section of the University community.
Applications are available in 111 stauffer-Flint. Come and get one day.
The editorial board is composed of about 15 people who develop the ideas and write what you see on the left-hand side of the opinion page. Board members bring in ideas from many sources. After
FALL EDIT. EDITOR
Kansan seeks opinionated students for editorial page
If, at some point this year, you've sat on your couch watching "Brady Bunch" reruns and complaining about an editorial or a column in the
As another semester draws to a close, the Kansan is busy planning for next year. And we want you to be a part of the fun.
Kansan, now is the time to get up and do something.
Still not sure? Look at it this way here is your chance to have your voice heard and to become part of one of the country's top college papers.
Of course it is easy to sit at home and complain, not doing anything to have your voice be heard. Maybe you are waiting for someone to speak for you. But if you don't apply, you will always be the person that doesn't take action.
Coalitions discourage many potential voters
In addition to the editorial board, we have positions available for columnists. Columnists write once each week and even get their picture in the paper. If you have a sense of humor or have insight into issues, you might be right for column writing. Again, it is not necessary to be a journalism major, but good writing skills are a must. We want eloquent writing and clear thinking on a wide range of issues.
If you don't have literary talents, but can draw editorial or strip cartoons, we have a place for you, too. Caroonists can draw as much, or as little as they want each week. But the editorial cartoonist attends the editorial board meetings to get an idea of the issues we are discussing.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Whew. I finally made it through my last Student Senate election at the University of Kansas. I thought the day would never come. What's that? Am I a senator? No, actually I'm just a voter. Well, actually, I'm not technically a voter because I didn't vote, so I guess that makes me a potential voter. In fact, any and all students who made their way to class on election day were potential voters.
This was obvious based on the amount of coalition workers/candidates who were bombarding potential voters with bright yellow and blue fliers, as well as comments such as "Make sure you look at the Kansan endorsements!" and "Did you vote?, Did you vote?, Did you vote?" Furthermore, they were conveniently spaced around campus so that it was impossible to get to class, the library or a voting booth without a coalition encounter.
For example, it would be more appropriate if there were nonpartisan individuals placed around campus reminding students to vote. Also, signs could be placed around campus directing students to various voting booths. Furthermore, coalition members should not be allowed to campaign on
I must say that I admire the enthusiasm with which the coalitions worked. Campaigns such as their require hard work and dedication, and I applaud them for this. I also realize that the percentage of students that actually vote is very low, and this can be discouraging. However, I feel there must be a better way to encourage voter participation than using the coalitions themselves.
campus during voting hours. This turns the campaign into a circus and leads students to become more disgruntled with the entire process as they scurry to avoid bright colored pieces of paper and the individuals holding them.
I didn't vote in this election because the coalitions failed to give me the respect that I had given them during their campaign. For the past month I have read the articles, seen the signs and discussed the issues surrounding this election. On election day the reins should be turned over to the voters. This is our day to respond to the previous month's campaigns. We should be exposed to nonpartisan reminders to vote and not last-minute campaign efforts to sway our vote.
Heather LawREN is a Wellsville senior in journalism.
Kerrl Johns Lawrence senior
Letters: Should be double-spaced typed and fewer than 200 words. Letters must include the authors signature, name, address and telephone number plus class and hometown if a University student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions.
How to submit letters and guest columns
Guest columns: Should be double-spaced typed with fewer than 700 words. The writer must be willing to be photographed for the column to run.
All letters and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Staufer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or out-right reject all submissions. For any questions, call Matt Gowen, editorial page editor, or Heather Lawrenz, associate editorial page editor, at 864-4810.
MIXED MEDIA
By Jack Ohman