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Tuesday, February 14, 1989 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
America should encourage Cambodian peace process
Given the scarce U.S. media coverage afforded the Cambodian civil war during the past 10 years, most of us would be surprised by what Sally Birch has to say.
"The violence around here is numbingly common," Birch said recently in a written correspondence from Battambang, Cambodia.
Birch, who was a KU student last year, now works for an international relief organization 50 miles east of the Thailand border in a region of extreme violence.
"But the most discouraging thing I see in the people," she said, "is the long-term emotional scars from living in transition, from not being sure if their gardens are mined, from being pawns in a chess match between two superpowers thousands of miles away."
Although the United States hasn't played a significant role in the Southeast Asia since its forces left Vietnam in 1975, Cambodia's current political circumstances give our government an opportunity to help soothe that country's wounds.
Recently the Soviet Union and China, which have financed opposing sides of the conflict, indicated that they were ready to end the bloody stalemate. Last week, the Soviet news agency Tass announced plans for a mid-May Sino-Soviet summit to discuss the issue.
China supports the estimated 20,000 fanatically dedicated rebels of the Khmer Rouge who are fighting and hiding along the Thailand border. Reports say that the rebels and their leader Pol Pot are poised to retake the country when Vietnam leaves. Pol Pot sent thousands of Cambodians to their deaths before the Vietnamese invaded in 1970.
But when the Vietnamese pull out, they will leave the thin fighting force of the People's Republic of Kampuchea to defend the country from the Khmer Rouge rebels.
Both countries said they wanted the Soviet-backed Vietnamese troops to withdraw from Cambodia by September under "strict international supervision."
To ensure that the Khmer Rouge does not regain control of Cambodia, the United States must encourage the peace process by monitoring Vietnam's withdraw as part of the international supervision team. The United States also must insist that China stop supporting the Khmer Rouge.
The government and the people of Cambodia must be allowed to normalize their existence without interference from outside forces, for the first time in more than a generation.
James Farquhar for the editorial board
Dogs that chew on llamas shouldn't waste court time
Advice to dogs: don't get caught chewing on a llama in Oregon.
Taz, a malamute-akita mix, was seized Jan. 23, 1987, for having "engaged in the killing, wounding or injuring of livestock." A ranch owner discovered Taz and two of his dog buddies chewing on a llama — a capital offense for dogs in Oregon. But his owner, Shane Bowlin, appealed, contending that he was denied due process of law.
The county granted Taz a stay of execution during the appeal that last week reached the U.S. Supreme Court. But the court declined to save Taz, and he was killed shortly after the request was denied.
Thus ended a waste of more than two years of court time and legal fees.
Bowlin's lawyer said that Taz's owner took the time because he loved his dog. But the taxpayers who support the court system and the court workers don't love Taz and shouldn't be forced to pay for two years of court time for a canine llama chewer.
Yes, animals have rights. But Taz was endangering the rights of other animals, and, just as a human would, he must face the penalty of his actions.
The Supreme Court made the right decision not to waste any more time on the matter. The fight for Taz was not a fight for animal rights. It was an attempt by his owner to tie up the matter in court, wasting time and money for the court system.
Jill Jess for the editorial board
News staff
Julie Adam...Editor
Karen Boring...Managing editor
Jill Jess...News editor
Deb Gruver...Planning editor
James Farquhar...Editorial editor
Elaine Sung...Counsel editor
Tom Stinson...Sports editor
Janine Swiatkowski...Photo editor
Drew Eames...Graphics editor
Noel Gerdes...Arts/Features editor
Tom Eblen...General manager, news adviser
Business staff
Debra Cole...Business manager
Pam Noe...Retail sales manager
Kevin Martin...Campus sales manager
Scott Frager...National sales manager
Michelle Garland...Promotion manager
Brad Lennart...Marketing
Linda Prokop...Production manager
Debra Martin...Asst. production manager
Kim Colmanman...Co-op sales manager
Carl Cressler...Classified manager
Jeanne Hines...Sales and marketing adviser
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The New Rainbow Coalition
Increasing diversity calls for tolerance
Understanding is the key to overcoming our pervasive ethnic, racial stereotypes
an interesting thing happened to me on my first day in Spanish 104. After we took our seats, the instructor quickly told us that we had an
tor quickly told us that we nad an advantage over students studying other languages. She explained further what she meant, saying that the United States was being "invaded" by Hispanics and that this country would be bilingual by 2000.
Later during the class period, we finished practicing introductory greetings. The instructor then told us that the next time we saw "Mexicans" in the hallway we could say "hola" to them. She jokingly added that we should quickly move on to light think we were trying to pick up on them.
I had enrolled in the class hoping to learn the beautiful Spanish language and to explore Latin American culture. Instead, I left with an empty feeling, I came to realize sadly that even in a Spanish 104 class, ethnic stereotypes were reinforced.
First, the use of the term "invaded" was derogatory and somewhat misleading. Most of this country's Hispanic population has lived here for two, three or four generations, and a substantial number of Hispanic-Americans have ancestors who were as long ago as the 1600s. In that sense, many people share misconceptions about Hispanic-Americans.
Eladio Valdez
Guest columnist
Furthermore, it should be noted that our country has always been known as a place of opportunity. And, with the exception of American Indians, we are all immigrants.
How soon we forget. The instructor's comments underscore that point. I felt alienated by her remarks. Her comments made me see that Mexican-Americans are still treated as foreigners rather than as ordinary U.S. citizens. Sure, I'm Hispanic, but I'm also an American. I was born and raised here, and I expect to be given the same courtesy and respect given to others.
The teacher's joke made me feel uncomfortable. It made me realize just how prevalent prejudice and stereotypes are in our society.
How many times have we encountered comments like "Oh, that's a typical kid'r or" "There goes that black music again?" The condition is inherent to American culture. Some folk songs are based on ethnic jokes, and the television and motion picture industries do their best to keep stereo-
tynes alive.
Not that I'm pointing fingers. Stereotypes are our way of making sense of things we don't understand fully. People of different ethnic or socioeconomic backgrounds are mysterious to us if we don't interact with them often enough to understand why they are the way they are. We get information about them from others who really don't understand, either.
Many of us are content to accept those generalizations instead of taking a step further. What results, unfortunately, is insensitivity. The instructor did apologize for her remarks after I talked to her about them, but the damage was done.
We must inform ourselves about each other, or our ethnic groups and social classes will grow farther apart. Evidence of the problem can be seen in Lawrence, with the rising tide of racial complaints during the past few years. Sixteen were reported last year.
According to a recent NBC report, minorities will make up about 40 percent of the U.S. population by 2038. With increasing diversity, many people fear that the number of racial incidents will increase. But that doesn't have to be too alarming; most unrepresented people with whom we are not familiar.
Eladio Valdez is a Kansas City, Kan., junior majoring in exercise science and is the president of the Hispanic-American Leadership Organization.
K·A·N·S·A·N
MAILBOX
Consumer rights
I am appalled at the poor service the Student Union gives its members or rather, customers. The building the businesses occupy has a prime location on campus, and as such represents a monopoly for those concerns. Surely in light of the high profits such locations must yield, can't we, the suppliers of the revenue, expect more in return? Cannot the bookshop decrease the enormous profit margin it has upon the resale of used books? Or how about the Union restaurant translating profit into a return to less biologically hazardous tableware, more vegetarian options or even cheaper food?
Coming from a federally funded education system, I feel that if profit and education must mix, then at the very least we as students should have the same rights as consumers.
Support soccer
Toby Almes
Exeter, England, junior
I think that it is a pity that the University will not support the men's soccer team's bid to become a varsity sport. Soccer is growing and there will be many future students interested in playing soccer who will choose other schools because the soccer program here is only a club
sport.
The men's soccer team had one of the winningest seasons of KU sports teams last fall, and the players possess the ambition and talent to be a great team.
The team was denied its request on an economic basis. This is ridiculous because the soccer team was willing to raise a large portion of the money needed themselves.
I believe that the University should give the soccer team a chance to grow, and in the process I will be giving them a new and exciting outlet to help them show their support of the University of Kansas.
Kathy Moylan Roeland Park junior
I am appalled with your latest interpretation of U.S. democracy-in-action. Julie Adam's Feb. 8 editorial would have me believe that the government's air curtions, when it comes to pay raises.
Congress responded
Tell me, just where do the American citizens fit in to your democracy? The last time I checked, democracy was defined as "government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives." Last week, the people spoke out against a pay raise program that favored a receptable. Our elected representatives in Congress listened and then voted accordingly. Democracy worked. Congressmen responded dutifully to the concerns of their constituents.
Adam flippantly labeled our responsive politicians as "wimps." I would label them as loyal legislators. Casting aside whatever personal convictions they may have had for
Gary Patton
Gary Patton Lawrence graduate student
private financial gain, our congressmen voted by the will of the people. To call them wimps for doing so is to question the democratic principles that govern our free society.
Misdirected concern
I would like to respond to Michael McVey's touching arguments concerning the rights of an unborn fetus. First, I will take McVey's comments seriously when he can give birth to a baby. It seems clear that some men like McVey are interested in the abortion issue as an attempt to exert control over the women in this country. The fact that the president both the Lawrence and the organizers "right to life" organization have men speaks to this opinion, and I think it a real shame the abortionists who claim to be so interested in the well-being of children do not help the children who are already alive and suffering whether from physical, sexual or emotional abuse or neglect. Where are all of these fine people when abused children need help? If anti-abortionists were truly concerned about the well-being of children, they would be working on reform of the judicial system. Children in this country are still as property of their parents and court systems and social abusers are concerned more offending abusive parents rather than for the lives and well-being of abused children. In order to assist the children of this nation, the anti-abortionists need to be working toward ending all family violence.
Stephanie B. Sanchez Lawrence senior
BLOOM COUNTY
by Berke Breathed