The University Daily Kansan emphasizes the First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech. or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2007 WWW.KANSAN.COM
EDITORIAL: Bryan Dykman grapples with the thought of revealing himself to a secret crush and the letdown that could ensue.
See Kansan.com for more opinions and Free for All comments
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
PAGE 9A
》 OUR VIEW
America should watch its global choices
We are the blissfully complacent.
Even in the wake of 9/11, when we raised our flags and felt thankful to be in a democratic nation, we under used our democratic abilities.
Using our democratic abilities is not a matter of voting yes or no for terrorism. It's a matter of opening our eyes to the manners in which America affects the world.
President Bush pointed his finger at the culprits, and most of America, without a second thought, followed suit. Wed been attacked; this was no time to consider how our past political decisions had helped fuel the tragedy. It was no time to ponder whether our angered reactions would lead to more. Yet our political decisions, inexercically linked to the rest of the world, had both sparked and funded irrevocable hatred and continue to encourage terrorism today.
During the Cold War, the United States government armed and trained Afghani fundamentalists — one of whom may have been Osama bin Laden — to fight the Soviets. These "freedom fighters" became the Taliban. We supported Saddam Hussein's shady actions in the Iraq-Iran War. Months before 9/11, we gave millions of dollars to the Taliban on good faith that they would use it to eradicate poppies. These examples represent a drop in the bucket of scandalous U.S. relations.
Even if these judgments were made in honest error, Americans should be more cognizant of the implications of our actions. Policies and ideologies that are commonplace for us are devastating to others, including our lack of cultural sensitivity, our promotion of capitalism, our propensity to be contradictory, our history of attempting and failing to ameliorate conflicts more complex than we ever realized, and, of course, putting money into poten-
tunny dangerous hands.
Our war with Iraq, for better or for worse, increased terrorism. A report issued by the World Policy Institute found that in 2003 more than
half of the developing countries the U.S. supplied arms to were nations in which citizens did "not have the right to change their own government." In 2006, Sen. Sam Brownback passed a bill to give $50 million to "pro-democracy" groups who wanted to overthrow the Islamic government of Iran. To fund one of these groups, the MEK, we also had to remove it from the U.S. Department of State terrorist list, where it and its cohorts resided for acts of terrorism against the U.S. and Iran. Perhaps these rebels wreak less terror now, but do we really expect these groups to instill peace with their new guns? Do we so naively believe that they will precisely or quickly accomplish their mission, or that Iranians will be thankful for the Americans we just sparked?
Using our democratic abilities is not a matter of voting "yes" or "no" for terrorism. It's a matter of opening our eyes to the manners in which America affects the world.
In a nation that provides education and encourages free speech, we have become carefree and soft spoken, and our lack of use of democracy is no small matter. Our national decisions don't merely regard prosaic issues; they may significantly affect how our nation prospers and falters in the world. Those who have targeted us did so for reasons that are important to understand.
Alison Kieler for the editorial board.
>> COMMENTARY
Love dilemma prompts spontaneity
Two options: I can either knock on her door right now or slip a hand-written letter under it. For the last three days I've been waiting for some form of reply to my phone calls. Since implementing the three-call rule, I've dialed twice. If there's no pick up on call three, it's finished.
I suppose I fancy myself some kind of a writer and having this confidence, I would like to play to my strength. All I need are a few good lines and a little honesty. But a letter feels so indirect and almost archaic. Also, I just finished writing it by hand and the spelling of "sincerely" at the letter's close looks very questionable. I continue to look over it is because I can faintly hear the sound of a slamming door.
Perhaps I have made the situation too black-and-white. But reason and logic have a funny way of leaving when you're standing six doors down with letter in hand and
heart in throat.
Earlier, back in my room, I stared at the ceiling and followed the pipes with my eyes from one side of the room to the other and back again. I had some
I asked my roommate what to do.
poetry. I felt worse. My thoughts just kept recycling, I think I should talk to her. I think I should let her be.
"Walk away and leave it alone," he told me.
BY BRYAN DYKMAN
And it's at this point, after he said only six words that I know exactly what I have to do.
DYNAMIK DYNAMIK
KANSAN COLUMNIST
OPINION@KANSAN.COM
Go after her.
I know that I cannot walk away and leave it alone, not this woman. That simple sentence was enough of a gut check to let me know how I
really felt, because you never know how you really feel until you ask for some advice and someone tells you the exact opposite.
Like the time I wanted to buy
a 1995 Mercedes-Benz E420 with 150,000 miles on it. My friend told me it would be "totally righteous." I knew instantly that none of my friends where mechanics and my $6,000 should be better spent elsewhere.
Now that I knew what to do, I started to think about her again and with a little sense of optimism. The last time I talked to her, she told me that she'd read Hesse's "Siddhartha" and didn't like it
I think I bought some used books instead.
Who doesn't like "Siddhartha?"
That question alone hurried me down the stairs and across the parking lot to the north side of Daisy Hill. I barely made it before the 11 p.m. mark and sprinted up four flights of steps.
And here I am in the lobby, trying to catch my breath before walking down the north wing and either knocking on her door or using this letter.
And it's up to me. No roommate to check how I really feel. I'm in front of her door, reciting the 23 Psalm, trying to remember what comes after the green pastures. Gathering what little energy I have left, I turn around and head home, accidentally tripping one of the restricted exit alarms on my way.
I apologize to the deskies. I tell them I wasn't thinking.
Dykman is a Westwood freshman in English.
Grant Snider/KANSAN
》 LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Although I have never been impressed with the actions and decisions that the Kansan's "Jayplay" espouses, I was particularly disappointed to see the article "What Happens in Vegas...” in the March 8 edition. I don't mean to condemn the author, but rather the Kansan for publishing such an article. It was not only poor journalism, but also detrimental to the students of the University of Kansas. Getting drunk on one's 21st birthday, or any time that matter, is not a particularly impressive accomplishment, as it requires nothing but the ability to swallow and a willingness to completely abandon one's personal dignity. We hear enough “news” about the drunken antics of Paris and Britney in the national media. I'm disappointed that aspiring journalists of the University couldn't think of something a little more original and groundbreaking than the brilliantly insightful lines about dancing on a bar and throwing up on an airplane.
Drunken antics too risqué for print
While this article reflected very poorly on the Kansan, it also sent a dangerous message to the students of the University. The majority of young adults who decide to binge
drink do so because of the false idea that "everyone" is doing it. By celebrating this young woman's night of drunken debauchery, the Kansan perpetuates this idea while ignoring the large number of students who choose to spend their time and money in mature, healthy and responsible ways. This article's message is especially damaging to the women of the University. On this "liberal campus," we deserve to read about women who are newsworthy for real accomplishments, not for allowing themselves to be objectified by dancing suggestively and making out with complete strangers. These are not the actions of a liberated woman, but rather one who rejects the dignity of her body and willingly participates in being treated like an object of male pleasure.
I hope that in the future, the Kansan and "Jayplay" uphold higher journalistic standards and celebrate the many diverse accomplishments of KU students and faculty rather than promoting such disgusting overindulgence.
Kristen Kearney McPherson senior
FREE FOR ALL
Call 864-0500
Free for all callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
I walked by Brandon Rush twice today, and he checked me out once. It's going to be a good
— definitely just said that March is only for basketball, and I would have to agree with her.
题
I think the better question is how do you know what Band-aids
I just saw a man with a purse and I'm slightly confused.
in reference to the call that was made about the man-purse: it was a cute purse.
My fiance — who is a female
I think Sherron Collins is the best basketball player ever, but I find it very rude that he will never accept my friend invitation on Facebook.
图
To the person who complained that the drinking fountains taste like Band-aids: How do you know what Band-aids taste like?
what Band-0.
I just saw two guys trying to scale the wall of Anschutz library.
At the beginning of the semester, I enrolled in an evolutionary biology class. Little did I know, I was volunteering myself for a population genetics course.
Hey Free for All, you think you could get me some of whatever the NCAA Selection Committee is
Some girl just almost got hit by a bus next to Jayhawk Bookstore.
Facebook
at the top of the hill.
I bet K-State doesn't even teach evolution!
today: I have one question for you. Why?
图
I'm going to start spreading needles all over campus, so you hippies better start wearing
shoes
Free for All: screw North Korea!
My roommate has weapons of
"arc" destruction
face
图
To the girl in the skirt, above me: Please, stop wearing under-
To anyone who refers to facebook as an icon of social status:
Get a damned clue.
If you want to get a girl to like you,get money.
et a damn
wear
Maybe the disgusting people get defensive because you don't have the balls to say it to their
It's 3:00 in the morning, and I don't know where to put the
today: I have one question for you. Why?
图
today: I have one question for you. Why?
To all the idiots who hurt themselves playing with their Nintendo Wi-Fi I have one, and it's perfectly safe. The only problem with the WiFi is user error.
Free-for-All, this is bullshit! I just opened my bag of Doritos Baked Lays, and there are only nine chips.
I blame B harmonic minor scales for all the problems in the
To the lady who nearly lost her tube-top on The Price is Right
Whenever I'm about to do something, I think "would an idiot do that?" if they would. I do not do that then.
-
I just played in a puddle in an elevator. I don't know why it was there. It's not raining.
>> TALK TO US
Courtney Hagen, opinion editor
864-4924 or chagen@kansan.com
Patrick Ross, managing editor 864-4854 or press@kansan.com
Gabriella Souza, editor
864-4854 or gsouza@kansan.com
Nicole Kelley, managing editor
864-4854 or nkelley@ikansan.com
Natalie Johnson, associate opinion editor
864-4924 or njohnson@kansan.com
Lindsey Shirack, business manager
864-4014 or lshirack@kansan.com
Jackie Schaffer, sales manager 864-4462 or jschaffer@kansan.com
Jennifer Weaver, sales and marketing adviser
864-7666 or jweaver@jansan.com
》 SUBMISSIONS
Maicolm Gibson, general manager, news adviser
864-7667 or mallisonjkansan.com
The Kansan welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni.
The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length, or reject all submissions.
For any questions, call Courtney Hagen or Natalie Johnson at 864-4810 e-mail opinion@kansan.com.
General questions should be directed to the editor at editor@kansan.com.
LETTER GUIDELINES
Maximum Length: 200 words
**Include:** Author's name, class, hometown (student)
or position (faculty member/staff) and phone number
(will not be published)
SUBMIT LETTERS TO
111 Sturbridge First hall
114 Blythewood Blvd.
Lawrence KS 60645
(785) 434-9200 oppenkommentar.com
(785) 434-9200 oppenkommentar.com
Maximum Length: 500 words
GUEST COLUMN GUIDELINES
**include:** Author's name: class, hometown (student); position (faculty member/staff); phone number (will not be published)
Also: The kannan will not print guest columns that attack a reporter or another columnist.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Gabrielle Souza, Nicole Kelley, Patrick Ross, Courtney nagey, Natalie Johnson, Allison Kieler, Tasha Riggins and McKay Stangler