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Tuesday, March 3, 1987 / University Daily Kansan
A minor protection
Kansas should protect its young.
And some legislators are trying to do just that with a bill that would protect minors from pornographic material.
The bill, which would prohibit commercial retailers from displaying, distributing and selling pornographic materials to minors, lies in the House Committee on Federal and State Affairs.
Now, cities in Kansas individually govern the display and sale of pornographic materials through ordinances.
State Rep. Marvin E. Smith, R-Topke, wrote the bill after angry constituents informed him about children's comic books that contained acts of sexual violence.
Opponents of the bill argue that broad interpretations of the bill could threaten First Amendment rights, and supporters argue that the state must protect minors from violent material.
Such a bill would be beneficial to the state and would not inflict on First Amendment rights. Bookstores and other retailers could find ways to display pornographic material so that children could not get their hands on it. Laws exist to keep minors from buying many items, including liquor. Pornographic material should be no exception.
The bill would not ban the sale or distribution of pornographic materials. Instead, it would just require that such materials be kept away from minors. That is not asking too much.
The state should be concerned with the way that its young residents grow up because they will become part of the state's future.
Speaking of language
Se habla espanol? Parlez-vous francais?
A few state legislators say that if you don't speak English in Kansas, you should.
Amidst legislative squabbles on trimming the state budget, reinstating the death penalty and enacting the "sin amendments." a bill has been submitted to make English the official state language. Its sponsors say the purpose is to promote English and to enact in statute what already exists in reality.
But this is precisely the reason why such a statute is unnecessary. It is clear that English is the primary language throughout Kansas. Education, road signs and grocery labels indicate this. There is no danger of Kansas life being impaired by the proliferation of languages other than English. Kansans
They also are provided with educational programs to assist them in this task. Should the bill be approved, such programs may be in jeopardy. In particular, bilingual education programs could be threatened because they might not be seen as promoting the "official language."
There are many objectives to be achieved in the Legislature that are aimed to improve life for Kansans. The last concern of the Legislature should be a bill that is not only unneeded, but also is intentionally inflammatory in its attempts to exclude non-English speakers from the "official" way of life.
whose primary language is not English have enough incentives to learn to communicate in English as they encounter the language in everyday life.
A bright future
In addition to the weather, a lack of facilities has kept good plavers from Lawrence.
Quigley Field will be getting lights, and that has brightened the spirits of the KU Jayhawks' baseball team. It is also a much-needed step in improving the KU program.
For years, KU baseball teams have struggled unsuccessfully to keep up with teams from across the country. Part of the reason is the climate. While cold weather keeps the Jayhawks in the weight room, teams in California, Arizona and Texas already are playing games.
Even though nothing can be done about the weather in Kansas, steps have been taken to upgrade the facilities. Last fall, an anonymous donor contributed $115,000 for the construction of bleachers and a press box, which is part of the
first phase of renovation at Quigley Field. The second phase, which includes restrooms and a concession stand, is expected to be completed by the end of the month.
Installing lights at the field was considered to be a long-term project until Maupintour sped up the schedule by providing more than $100,000 for lights.
Non-revenue sports have had a difficult time of getting enough money to be competitive. It's nice to know that Maupintour and another donor have enough interest in the KU baseball program to provide more than $200,000 to upgrade it.
Now that Coach Marty Pattin will have a first-class ball field to play in, all that is left is to work on providing the same kind of team.
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Opinions
Some tips on spring break travel plans
Most of us here at the University of Kansas already are looking forward to spring break. I, personally, began planning and counting the days during the first meeting of my anthropology class. While being verbally seated in our classroom, soror for our general lack of courage and maturity, I think the entire class was asking itself, "What day is it and when is the next holiday?"
Jon Gregor Columnist
At the time, I gave little thought to the means of transportation I would employ in my endeavor to find peace, tranquility and, of course, self control. As the date drew nearer and I analyzed the options available, I came to the conclusion that there was but one viable option. But first, let's take a look at some of the travel options I rejected.
Flying seems like a perfectly reasonable game plan, but I must point out one significant new twist to air
travel: Nobody is concentrating on flying those airplanes. It is perfectly clear to me that the pilots and stewardesses have enough on their minds when simply flying the craft. Add to that the contract disputes that crop up every couple of months or so where a boy bought my airline while we were on a syndrome that has become a part of aviation the last three years, and those people in the planes are somewhat distracted, to say the least.
Now, you might say, "Hey, these people are professionals. They can handle it." I agree, but there's more to it than. Besides the pilots and stewardesses, air traffic controllers have found themselves in a system that John O'Brien of the Airline Pilots Association said is "being asked to handle more planes than it can handle." Regardless of O'Brien's lack of eloquence, he is right. And now the government has raised concerns that some controllers have been doing a little flying of their own on drugs. With all of these problems, we should be a bit worried when "Controller Bob," in a daze, attempts to get his little blips into a solid white line.
Though it is said that flying is safer than driving on our nation's highways, I stress my argument with the belief that if you are on a flight in which all of the above factors align, you're doomed. If you're in an airline accident, chances are that burying you would make us use it takes a lot of time to comb ten city blocks with tweezers looking for what's left of you.
Going Amtrak seems to be a nice alternative. If you've seen their commercials, a serene, comfortable and safe passage to your destination is offered. So you think, "OK, let's get railed!" Of course, you do.
The advertisement doesn't show some good oil boy drooling behind the controls of a couple hundred tons of locomotive, flying through the valleys and mountains of Colorado at ungody speeds. All the while, white-knuckled passengers prepare themselves and their children for a trip into death's den. Yes, you've seen it on the news, Amtrak is run.
If you haven't already guessed the next alternative, good. It is best we keep such foolish thoughts out of our minds. Buses are out of the question.
David Letterman once offered the only possible relief for a long bus trip, a game in which you try to guess the various psychoses of the man sitting next to you. Between stale chips and warm soda, many passengers find themselves hunting down two vital items, a bottle of Pepto-Bismol and a loaded weapon.
This brings me to the final, and only, feasible option. If you can drive yourself to your destination, do it. Unlike flying, you are in control (although that may be a distinct disadvantage with some of you). One clear advantage over flying is that if you are in an accident, paramedics will most likely be able to find you—all of you. When someone is trying to save your life, it is usually best that most parts of you are present.
You also have the benefit of choosing your company. And if someone in your car gets on your nerves, you can always leave them in some restaurant in central Kansas. Finally, If you want to get there fast, strap on the radar detector, buckle the seat belt, bury the gas pedal in the floor carpeting, and pray to God that the Gestapo doesn't nail you.
David Stowe
Winfield freshman
Mailbox
Danger of patriotism
The TV movie "Amerika" has generated strong responses from both the left and right. Typical of the right-wing response was Chris Wilson's letter, which appeared in the Feb. 25 issue of the Kansan It defended the movie for stirring "much-needed patriotism." However, has Wilson ever wondered why patriotism is much-needed?
The word is a favorite among Third World dictators. To avoid the revolt of their discontent people, leaders often go to war, as Argentina did in the Falkland Islands, in hopes of bringing the people behind their cause, and making any previous anger With patriotism the government has control.
As Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon and Grenada all clearly show, the government may send Americans into combat areas without their consent or the consent of Congress at any time. That hardly seems what Jefferson had in mind when he wrote of life, liberty and happiness.
Patriotism is not much-needed in the United States. Americans are already a people of such patriotism that other countries cross them only at risk. However, in peacetime, Americans must realize that the greatest threat to their freedom is not a foreign government, but their own government.
Review lacks insight
From the moment one sees the soldiers (kids) walking off of the plane in "Platoon," anyone with insight can see that the movie is a story with a plot as ambivalent as this country's attitude toward the Vietnam War. It is a story tactfully told.
Panning the critic
If one notices, there is restraint in the "blood, guts and gore" until a point in the movie when you get to know some of the characters. Once introduced to them, I think director Oliver Stone does an exceptional job of showing the random viciousness of death in war — random from the standpoint that death does not choose its victims based on good or evil personalities. Death takes whomever is standing in the way.
After reading Kris Kurtenbach's incredibly shallow and short-sighted review of "Platoon," I felt compelled
“Platoon” is one man's story about Vietnam. Certainly there are others. It also meets its objective of showing that war is nothing to be glorified. More than just blood and gore, war is wasteful. If one insists on another perspective on the Vietnam War and then asks for help from a Musgrave, whose talk on the subject appeared in the Feb. 26 issue of the Kansan.
David Ramos Leavenworth graduate student
to write some sort of response.
She said the film lacked "Best Picture" traits, one of which was a strong storyline. I am wondering if she saw "Hannah and Her Sisters", which, while excellent, had perhaps less of a plot than "Platton".
Kurtenbach said the film needed to show insight into the soldier's actions, but didn't, choosing instead to emphasize the gore and violence. She obviously has missed the point that the film is nothing but insight into the central character and how the surroundings affect him. She must hate relationships among the men affected him, and the others, psychologically.
As for the violence in the film, that is what war is made of. If she thought the film was senselessly violent and brutal, then perhaps she can realize that that's what many of the soldiers felt about the war itself, and that's why so many of them came back in the conditions they did.
"Platoon" is an engrossing, emotional film about the struggle to remain sane inside a hive of insanity and it wholeheartedly deserves its position as an Academy Award Best Picture nominee.
David Yonally Overland Park sophomore
A new euphemism
Regarding the "Dislike of Soviets a Disease" article of last Wednesday, I wonder whether Professor Mikkelson
really believes that it is one of those things his hosts hoped he would "speak out and persuade" people on. What dislike of the Soviets? I don't know anyone who dislikes the Soviet people. I for one, have the utmost respect and, indeed, affection for the Soviet people. That doesn't mean I like people who dislike the Soviet people "dislike" become "new theme"? Replacing "anti-Soviet," which is a euphimerm for telling the truth about the bellicose politics of the Soviets.
The 1987 peace offensive is well under way and its obvious goal is to foreclose a free-world response to the massive Soviet strategic buildup of ICBMs, ABM's and ASAT's. We need the SDI both to maintain deterrence and to provide a strategic option other than massive retaliation. SDI is not a threat to peace just because the Soviets say it is.
Indeed, the word peace has been so abused by propagandists that it has ceased to have any real meaning, at least in terms of geopolitics. Look at what a deal we'll get if we opt for peace this year, we'll get nuclear disarmament (i.e. "saving mankind"). They toss in Zhangzago, AA, rock music in a whole bunch of candidates, and all we have to give up is strategic defense. What are we waiting for? Let's smash that wicked war machine, comrades. The millennium is just around the corner!
Ben Casad Lawrence junior
BLOOM COUNTY
by Berke Breathed
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