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COMMENTARY: Fashion changes at an alarming rate in ways harmful to the planet. Wear vintage clothing to be good to our environment
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2007 WWW.KANSAN.COM
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
PAGE 9A
OUR VIEW
U.S. needs fairer imprisonment
The patron of freedom and democracy, the United States, is in a bit of hot water.
One month after Germany warranted the arrest of 13 U.S. CIA officials for kidnapping, torturing and detaining in a secret prison a German man of Lebanese descent while he was on vacation, Italy has indicted 26 U.S. officials for kidnapping and torturing an Egyptian cleric living in Italy. The most recent victim, who was only released this month, claims that he was kidnapped in 2003, detained in Egypt and tormented for nearly four years.
For Americans, these stories should be disheartening. It's even more sobering that they aren't the only incidents in which U.S. officials made grievous errors. Indicted U.S. officials may not even be tried in court. By law, the 13 officials that Germany accused must travel to Europe and admit to their aliases before they can be arrested.
The hypocrisy of the situation is overwhelming. It's embarrassing that the CIA acts like the world police, but it's downright disturbing that these representatives of the free and democratic U.S. violate human rights with little risk of being held accountable.
Amidst rumors of scandal, President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice tiptoe around the issue as though it's a sex talk and the American population is too young to understand. Only recently did Bush admit that the U.S. had secret prisons worldwide. He immediately diverted attention from the scandal of this statement by comforting us with the news that 14 "key" terrorist suspects were imprisoned in the prisons. Bush also explained that, although "alternative" methods of interrogation were used in U.S. secret prisons, torture was not authorized.
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We Americans would all love to love our nation, but this furtive behavior is distastefully undemocratic. Perhaps we were too trusting to assume that our government knew who the enemy was when we were asked to support the war against terrorism. We certainly were never briefed about the need for worldwide secret prisons with shady practices. If the U.S. condemns other countries for their lack of democracy, our freedom-loving nation should represent itself a little more accurately.
Combine a serious dearth of information with recent international allegations, and Bush's claim that "The U.S. does not torture" sounds as fraudulent as Clinton's illustrious statement, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman."
The war against clandestine terrorist organizations isn't one to be publicly detailed, but this secrecy goes a little too far. Why does the U.S. provide detail about men who are involved in the fight against terrorism and say nothing about the thousands of other prisoners in secret cells, some of whom are suspected to be held without charge? Exactly how does one monitor torture in a secret prison or judge what torture is in developing nations with less restrictive legal systems? What exactly are the mysterious "alternative" methods of interrogation that the government cannot detail?
There was a naked guy sitting toward the back of my chemistry class today.
Hey James: Love your new car Now I might actually consider sleeping with you.
Is it against the rules for a student to date their college profesor? Because I desperately want to strike up a romantic relationship with my Spanish teacher.
from the wall.
from the wall.
I was way too high this morning to walk by Eaton Hall and see these two big bodies hanging from the wall.
— Alison Kieler for the editorial board.
If you date a MU basketball player, yes, you are a traitor.
and now they're telling me not to wear it?
There's this guy in my Chem 184 class, two rows behind me, who is naked. I mean completely one hundred percent naked.
Hey Free-for-All, do you ever pick up?
Someone needs to teach K-State fans when to boo and when to cheer, because they sound
The guy behind me in class just said that "Damaged Circus" was funny. I didn't check, but I think he was blind.
To the guy who was wearing the "I heart lesbians" shirt in Es. And you wonder why you can't date
retarde
I just looked at the back of my Muck Fizzouz shirt, and is says "The University Daily Kansan" on it, and now they're telling me not to
》 ANARCHY IN THE U.K.
wear it?
There are few things in life that are absolutely certain, like taxes and death. What occurs between our birth and inevitable death will determine how — and if — we'll be remembered. We can take risks in order to gain a lifelong reward, or we can play it safe, stay home and watch the years tick by.
Take risks to live life to fullest
My year in England almost didn't occur because of an August 2006 terrorist threat involving liquid explosives. Looking back, I could have done the safe thing, re-enrolled at the University of Kansas for the fall term, and terminated my ambitions. I would've been regretful, miserable and depressed because of it, but I would've been safe.
Something will eventually kill us. Sitting in the safety of your own home is no longer a guarantee of security. There's really no excuse for not living your life how you want.
Travel to Europe or Africa. Go hang-gliding. Bungee jump. Any of those has the potential to kill you, but youd have a terrific last story
BY KELSEY HAYES
KANSAN COLUMNIST
OPINION@KANSAN.COM
for your loved ones to tell. There's nothing glamorous about choking on a pretzel in your recliner. I'm confident that when I finally go, I can go in peace, knowing that, when I was young, I did and saw what I wanted. I'll have seen the Eifel Tower, Westminster Abbey and the Sistine Chapel. I'll also have seen my friends' awe at discovering back alley pubs and seeing Big Ben for the first time. All of those are images to measure life by.
Too often we let fear dictate our lives, to the point where caution becomes the last resort of the lazy. Once we cross one threshold, it becomes easier to cross others. It's just loosening our inhibitions the
I've gone from staying in at night to walking freely through the dodgy parts of London. One of my favorite nights here involved wandering around south central London along the Thames at night with three friends, trying to find a place to drink. While obviously not prudent, the memory of it will never leave me.
first time that's difficult. Three years ago I would have been happy to live in Kansas my whole life. Now I want to attend law school in London and travel to South Africa to watch the World Cup in 2010.
I plan to fly, ride a ferry and take the train. I know I could crash or drown doing this. It comes down to two choices. Take a risk and do it now, or wait until you're 90 years old, when you can look back and think, "I wish I done that."
Hayes is a Lenexa sophomore in journalism and political science. She studies abroad in Reading, UK.
GRS 07
RAMEN COKE
Grant Snider/KANSAN
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Band dazzles at child's first collegiate game
My two-year-old son, Chris, attended his first collegiate basketball game on Feb. 18 and sat across the aisle from the University of Kansas pep band during the women's basketball game. He immediately was drawn to the instruments and atmosphere created from their sounds.
For the next two hours, he imitated the drummer during each song by banging pretend drums on our legs. During each performance break, Chris went up to members of the band to see their instruments first-hand. Your band members couldn't have been more wonderful
and courteous. They knelt down to his level, showed them their instruments and instructed him on how to hold them and push the buttons. The look on his face was priceless. He was so excited to be able to hold real instruments and talk to the band members.
Your band members really took interest in the pure joy of a young child having an incredible experience and I think they enjoyed it just as much as Chris did. I just wanted to let you know how well your members represented themselves and the University yesterday. I'm very appreciative of the time and attention they
were able to provide to my son.
We had a similar experience with your marching band during a football game earlier this year. Based on that experience, Chris asked for a band hat for Christmas and we now march around the house playing saxophones and trumpets. He also has a make-shift drum set so he can imitate the pep band drummer.
Thank you again for a wonderful experience and memory your band provided during the game on Sunday.
Jeff Scheibel Overland Park
》 LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Jayhawk fans need to wear blue for victory
I was astonished at what I saw. at the Feb. 19 Kansas vs. Kansas State basketball game. The audience at Bramlage Coliseum didn't seem to be in attendance. It was because of K-State's "Blackout" theme and the overwhelming number in the stands wearing black clothing.
Such a display of sports solidarity was amazing, a touch intimidating, and more than a little embarrassing. What a united front that presents. As discussed frequently during the
It becomes all the more embarrassing when one realizes that this shouldn't be that hard to do. There's a store on every street corner that sells KU apparel. If nothing else, just wear a plain blue T-shirt; it works just as well.
past week, people show up at KU games wearing clothes of every color under the rainbow.
On March 3, we play our final game of the season at home against Texas. With the tight race between
us and Texas A&M to top the Big 12, this game could prove to be all the difference. We as fans should do everything we can to spur our team on to victory.
If Duke, North Carolina and Kansas State can do it, then we can definitely do it. Let's all bring some "Blue Thunder" to the Phog on March 3.
Gabriella Souza, editor
864-4854 or gsozu@kansan.com
Nicole Kelley, managing editor 864-4854 or nkelley@kanasan.com
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Patrick Kaus, managing editor
Pickard & Ross, or postman/kamran
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Ryan Grass St. Louis junior
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864-4014 or lishirak@kansan.com
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864-7666 or jweaver@kansan.com
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As for trends, the fashion industry is hopelessly cyclical. There are skinny jeans still left over from the '80s just waiting to be discovered.
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BY GIANNA SHORT
KANSAN COLUMNIST
OPINION@KANSAN.COM
A recent "Vogue" article cemented the fate of pants this season as it proclaimed: "consider the boot cut obliterated" (the look should be skinny and tailored). Whether you think fashion is an art or a silly game, its march forward is an inevitable part of our lives, but have you ever thought about the effect that fashion has on the environment?
》 COMMENTARY
)
Wear vintage to save the environment
According to a new study released by the University of Cambridge entitled, "Well Dressed?", fashion's impact is bad, even worse than the thought of flared jeans.
You can also profit substantially from this type of recycling. Arizona Trading Company and Wildman Vintage pay in cash or trade for old clothes.
Consumers worldwide spent about $1 trillion dollars on clothing in 2000. A third of that was in North America. We have become accustomed to buying more clothes. How else could we keep up with the latest trends?
The problem with this sort of mindset is that a clothing industry capable of pumping out a new style of jeans every season is also pumping out toxic chemicals, carbon emissions and tons of old clothes into landfills.
All right, you get it but you don't want me to make you feel guilty. Organic cotton is expensive, and we all don't want to wear hemp, either. Luckily, there is a solution to solve your all fashion dilemmas: second-hand clothes. Get over your stigmas about used clothes. You live in Lawrence; no one cares.
Buying second hand is cheaper and often provides a more diverse selection. You can get more clothes with less buver's remorse.
Cotton is a natural fiber grown in the United States; however, it is also the most polluting cash-crop in the world. Cotton demands the most intense use of pesticides and fertilizers — 25 percent of total agricultural pesticide use, according to CNN. com — as well as the use of more toxic chemicals in manufacturing. Additionally, cotton is a big energy consumer in its production and laundering.
Synthetic fabrics also require a huge amount of energy to produce and are made from oil. Polyester, nylon and acrylic are made out of polymers, which are made from oil. However, they require less energy because they don't need as intensive laundering.
Buying second hand combines recycling and shopping; so you can feel good about the environment and the way you look.
Short is an Edmond, Okla. junior in environmental studies.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Gabrielle Souza, Nicole Keley, Patrick Ross, Courtney Hagen,
Natalie Johnson, Alison Keler, Tasha Riggins and McKay
Stangler
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