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Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
United States First Amendment
United States 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, DECEMBER 2, 2009
Hafner: Selling religion in late-night infomercials COMING THURSDAY
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE7A
FREE FOR ALL
--provide protection against discrimination of transgendered people, who identify as a different gender than the one they were given at birth.
To contribute to Free for All, visit Kansan.com or call (785) 864-0500.
School, why are you so far away from home? Two hours down, four to go. Yeah, driving.
Oh goodie, I'm going to start my job exactly when Bush's tax cuts are repealed. Yeah socialism.
My roommate bought an N64 and "Super Smash Brothers" today. Just in time for finals
--provide protection against discrimination of transgendered people, who identify as a different gender than the one they were given at birth.
I found plastic zoo animals in various questionable positions outside my neighbor's door tonight.
--provide protection against discrimination of transgendered people, who identify as a different gender than the one they were given at birth.
I've been here for almost five hours. Three-fourths of a page done. Lovely.
--provide protection against discrimination of transgendered people, who identify as a different gender than the one they were given at birth.
I just added an inside joke to my profile. I feel like a loser.
This week is gonna leave a bad taste in my mouth, so to speak. Luckily I've got a big bottle of vodka with which to wash it down.
I need a distraction. Oh, FFA.
--provide protection against discrimination of transgendered people, who identify as a different gender than the one they were given at birth.
--provide protection against discrimination of transgendered people, who identify as a different gender than the one they were given at birth.
Sixteen pages seems shorter when you're not in the process of writing the paper.
Guys are way easy to read, as long as you're literate.
It's impossible to write a paper over four pages long and it not be filled with bullish
I should be studying, but instead I'm looking up how to become a stripper.
Your dog is an animal, not a substitute child.
I'm pretty sure I just found a porn site of a girl I tutored.
I just rewarded myself for 10 minutes of work on my essay with an hour of Facebook playtime.
--provide protection against discrimination of transgendered people, who identify as a different gender than the one they were given at birth.
--provide protection against discrimination of transgendered people, who identify as a different gender than the one they were given at birth.
Anybody else completely tortured by that art history essay?
Making holiday crafts is way more important than the test I have tomorrow.
I just traded a bowl that I didn't pay for for some Pizza Shutup!
--provide protection against discrimination of transgendered people, who identify as a different gender than the one they were given at birth.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Commissioners voted against community beliefs and ideas
The Lawrence human relations commission voted against protecting the citizens of Lawrence when it did not recommend adding gender identity to the Lawrence antidiscrimination policy.
If gender identity was to be added to the policy it would
"I was deeply disappointed," said Maggie Childs, chairwoman for the Lawrence chapter of the Kansas Equality Coalition, about the recommendation.
The commission has been debating the issue for nine months, and came to the decision in a meeting on Nov. 19. Childs said that in August, the commission held a public forum and a dozen people in support of the addition attended, while only a few people were against it. She also said a member of the commission spoke in favor of the addition.
At the meeting in November, however, Childs said there were fewer people in attendance, and
those who were there spoke against the addition. She said most of the concern was about the access transgendered people would have to public restrooms and showers in health clubs.
KANSAN'S
OPINION
"It was clear to me that the people who spoke at the meeting were afraid," Childs said.
Part of the problem is a lack of education on the subject. Childs said the Equality Coalition would be putting together educational programs and functions for people to attend.
Another concern presented at the meeting was the costs the city would face from lawsuits if gender identity were to be added.
Tim Riling, an attorney in Lawrence, believes the problem is the lack of people who know about the proposed addition.
"The likelihood of the city having to spend money is absurd," Childs said.
"I don't know if the community is even aware of it," Riling said.
"The turnout of only 13 people tells me that not that many people know what's going on."
Gender identity is already protected by the University's policy and protected by law for state
employees. Lawrence should follow these examples.
Those who have concerns about the supposed risks the policy may have should put effort into learning more about gender identity and its expression. A fear of the unknown should not mean the exclusion of a group of people from discrimination protection.
"So what if they are different? Get over it," Childs said. "They have the right to be who they are."
Voting against this does not represent the ideas and beliefs of the University and this community. Students must show their support of adding gender identity to the anti-discrimination laws, and contact the commission members to voice their dissent against their decision.
— Kate Larrabee for The Kansan Editorial Board
CALL (785) 764-3220
TO SUPPORT ADDING
GENDER IDENTITY
TO LAWRENCE'S
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
POLICY
STUDENTLIFE
MARIAM SAFAN
Holiday shopping on a budget
T is the season of secret Santas, holiday parties, travel expenses
But you don't have to be a stingy Scrooge and give out cheap presents to save money. This year, satisfy your inner fashionista and stay within a recessionist budget.
Finding a gift at a vintage store or thrift store ensures that your gift will be original but still inexpensive. Vintage gifts are practically one of a kind, and because you're not buying something new your gift is sustainable. Arizona Trading Company, Wildman Vintage and the Antique Mall are just three of the many thrify places in Lawrence.
THRIFT A GIFT
and empty wallets. For the fashionistas and fashionistas, who like to give gifts the way they dress, buying something personal and unique can be difficult to do without taking away from the holiday outfit fund.
A retro holiday sweater or a pair of vintage ice skates are perfect, thoughtful gifts for winter celebrations, but be careful about sizes. Finding multiples of a vintage piece is rare, so there most likely will be only one size available.
A thrifted gift doesn't have to be clothing. Antique jewelry, retro holiday knick-knacks and
vintage toys are also fun gifts to give. Shopping for a journalism student? Antique stores carry hundreds of vintage magazines and newspapers. Looking for something special for that music major? Buy some used vinyl records.
Nothing says "thoughtful" like a homemade gift. Yes, Popsicle-stick reindeer and salt-dough cookie ornaments are staple holiday presents in second grade classrooms, but they are still fun, personal and easy gifts to make.
MAKE A GIFT
If you're a more experienced crafter, visit marthastewartliving.com and check out some of her homemade gift ideas. My personal favorite is to make your own stocking out of an old sweater by cutting out a stocking shape and sewing the pieces together.
You can dress up inexpensive gifts or baked goods by making your own, fancy holiday wrapping paper. Dress up plain wrapping paper with a glue stick and glitter.
Make creative designs or write the recipients name with the glue stick and voilah! Instant one of a kind, personalized gift wrap.
HAVE A GROUP GIFT OR
A GIFT EXCHANGE
If you have a very special, very expensive gift in mind for a friend, don't buy it alone. Get a group of mutual friends together to contribute money for one expensive gift. The more friends, the less money you have to spend, and your friend will see how many people appreciate him or her.
Remember quality over quantity. One nice,useful, expensive gift instead of a bunch of little,cheap gifts is much more likely to be something your friend actually wants and needs.
You can also get your friends together and do a gift exchange, so everyone is guaranteed to get a nice Christmas gift while still only having to buy one gift. You can still buy or make little gifts for your other friends, but you will only have to spend a lot on one person.
Follow Alexandra Esposito at twitter.com/TheHemlineKU.
Esposito is a Overland Park sophomore in journalism and film.
POLITICS
A trend emerges
In this final column, I'm sharing with you some random thoughts on
various political issues that have made news recently.
Here is a sample of the e-mails that were made public:
"I can't see either of these papers being in the next IPCC report. Kevin and I will keep them out somehow — even if we have to redefine what the peer-review literature is!"
"I've just completed Mike's Nature trick of adding in the real temps to each series for the last 20 years and from 1961 for Keith's to hide the decline."
1) It's remarkable that the biggest news story of the year is being ignored by the mainstream media. Evidence of fraud among the most prestigious climate scientists at the esteemed University of East Anglia's Climate Research Unit doesn't appear to be newsworthy.
"The fact is that we can't account for the lack of warming at the moment and it is a travesty we can't."
2) Liberals don't hate Fox News because they slant to the right. They hate Fox News because it is incredibly successful. Fox News has single handedly shattered the liberal news and popular culture monopoly. I love it when global warm
I love it when global warming protests are snowed out.
The dangers of political correctness were on display last month at Fort Hood. Not only did Major Hasan's superior officers admit to suppressing important information due to fear of accusations of prejudice, but the mainstream media refused to blame the shooter's actions on his Muslim background.
3) I think Mai, Nidal Malik Hasan was an indoctrinated radical Muslim that shouted, "Alahu Akbar" as he killed innocent Americans. The shooting was obviously politically motivated, which makes it an act of terror rather than a criminal act.
4) President Barack Obama
has misjudged his political capital. In 2008, he successfully linked his opponent to an extremely unpopular president, the economy was tanking, John McCain was incompetent and failed to fire up the base of the Republican Party and he still won by only by seven percentage points in the popular votes. America remains a center-right country despite electing Obama. This is one reason his poll numbers are falling faster than any newly-elected president in history.
5) Democrats claim to be the party of 'tolerance.' I have found this to be true — unless you disagree with them.
6) Any government big enough to give you anything you want is big enough to take everything you have.
Never in the history of the world has government control lowered costs or improved efficiency without going bankrupt. Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, the Postal Service, Amtrak, Cash for Clunkers and Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are the first examples that come to mind. What government program would suggest that our health care system would become more efficient?
Conservatives outnumber liberals in all 50 states for the first time in American history, according to an August Gallup poll. This is a new and important trend that favors Republicans in 2010. Now more than ever, the American people are realizing they want limited government. That's the right idea.
Compton is a Wichita senior in political science.
A disappointing sham
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Like watching a bad late-night infomercial, the American people were once again promised one outcome and delivered another.
Obama and Vice President Joe Biden said they believe in a responsible, phased withdrawal of troops in Iraq. They said they planned to end the war in Iraq immediately upon taking office and believed a resurgence of al-Qaida happened in Afghanistan because our resources were shifted to the invasion of Iraq.
President Barack Obama revealed his plan of sending 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan last night. Although Obama's plan includes a provision to end the war, this is not the anti-war candidate we saw in 2008 who promised to bring the troops home.
Yet again, we see ourselves stretching our resources thin by sending more troops overseas. 68,000 troops are already stationed in Afghanistan. No matter how charismatic Obama's speech, the miracle
plan will still be a disappointing sham.
That's why it is important to have and to participate in both local and national political groups. Through them we're able to tell Washington how we are tired of slick-sounding plans and want to see positive changes for our country.
Small grassroots movements can make a difference. For example, the local chapter of Campaign for Liberty is hosting a free screening of "For Liberty: How the Ron Paul Revolution Watered the Withered Tree of Liberty." The film — from the grassroots activists' perspective — shows how a campaign became effective and groundbreaking by going beyond traditional campaign methods.
See the film this tonight at 7 p.m. in Woodruff Auditorium of the Kansas Union and learn how to make your voice heard.
Information and groups like these teach us how to make a difference, not just talk about it.
Jenny Hartz is a senior from Stilwell.
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Brenna Hawley, editor
864-4810 or bhawley@kansan.com
CONTACT US
Haley Jones, kansan.com managing editor
Michael Holtz, opinion editor 864-4924 or mholtz@kansan.com
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864-4810 or jessica.baird@aarsan.com
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864-4477 or mkorte@kansan.com
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864-7666 or jonschlitt@north.com
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Brenna Hawley, Jesica Sain-Bard, Jennifer W. Harvey, Toni Thorburglien and Holzelt Haltz.
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