4
Friday, December 2. 1988 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
South Africa goes nowhere as it tries to show progress
South Africa took two steps forward and two steps backward recently in dealing with its racial tension. On Nov. 23 President P.W. Botha commuted the death sentences of six South African blacks who were convicted on charges arising from a mob killing of a black councilman in 1984.
live nine men and one woman, known as the Sharpeville Six after the township in which the murder occurred, had been on death row for three years. The Sharpeville Six will now serve 18-25 years in prison for the murder in which they were found to have shared a "common purpose" with the violent mob that stoned and burned the councilman to death.
source and one other. But the same day the sentence commutation was announced, Justice Minister Kobie H. Coetsee defended the government's verdict in a Pretoria treason trial the week before. Coetsee said South Africa resented the United States' criticism that the trial, which convicted four anti-apartheid campaigners of treason and seven of terrorism, was used merely for political purposes.
Another step that on the surface appeared to be forward was the government's decision on Nov. 24 not to return Nelson Mandela to prison after he recuperates from tuberculosis.
Seventy-year-old Mandela, leader of the African National Congress, has served 24 years of a life sentence for sabotage. The announcement that he wouldn't be returned to jail must have caused a glimmer of hope to shine in the eyes of many anti-apartheid supporters. The real news, however, was that he simply will be moved to a less uncomfortable prison.
The same day the announcement about Mandela was made, five blacks who were convicted of capital crimes were executed in Pretoria. This year 115 people have been executed in South Africa.
in South Africa.
Through incidents such as these, South Africa shows that it really is avoiding progress on the apartheid problem. Until it does, needless violence and injustice will continue. South Africa needs to begin listening to the country's black majority in order to take a solid, meaningful step forward.
Christine Martin for the editorial board
Sanders knows what counts
"It could all end in one play." Barry Sanders says soberly.
"Would anybody care about me then?"
Would anybody care about the Oklahoma State running back and Wichita native if he didn't play football? Would anybody care about him if he weren't the leading candidate to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday? Would anybody care about him if he weren't leading a monumental assault on NCAA rushing records? Then again, would Barry Sanders care if nobody care about him?
cared about him:
"Sometimes I want to ask (reporters). 'Can't you ask me about something besides football? Can't you ask me about something else?' " Sanders says.
Such talk from a nationally known athlete is almost unheard of. But it is unlikely that the nation will ever see a student-athlete like Barry Sanders again.
he like Barry Sanders again.
He's been known to study on Saturday nights after games.
And he is a kid on a basketball court Saturday.
He's been known to study on Saturday nights after games. And during a nationally televised interview last Saturday before the Notre Dame-Southern California game, he said he hoped Rodney Petee, the starting quarterback for Southern Cal and another leading Heisman candidate, performed well enough so that Heisman voters gave the award to him.
So if Barry Sanders doesn't really care about football or the Heisman, what does he care most about?
"With everything going on, I've tried to move a little closer to God," he says. "I try to go to church every Sunday."
The Heisman trophy is awarded to the year's best college football player. The people who pick the Heisman winners usually care only about performance on the field.
But by not concerning himself with the material things in life, such as athletic awards, and devoting his life to the more important things, such as God and family, Sanders has placed the respect and honor of the Heisman on a higher level.
And maybe Barry Sanders has opened the eyes of millions of sports fans and fellow athletes, and shown them that, deep down, maybe the lasting qualities are what they really care about after all.
Mark Tilford for the editorial board
News staff
Todd Cohen ... Editor
Michael Horak ... Managing editor
Julie Adam ... Associate editor
Stephen Wade ... News editor
Michael Merschel ... Editorial editor
Noel Gerdes ... Campus editor
Craig Anderson ... Sports editor
Scott Carpenter ... Photo editor
Doyle Eames ... Graphics editor
Jill Jess ... Aris/Features editor
Tom Fhlen ... General manager, news adviser
Business staff
BUSINESS MANAGERS
Greg Knipp...Business manager
Debra Cole...Retail sales manager
Chris Cooper...Campus sales manager
Linda Prokop...National sales manager
Kurt Messeramith...Promotion manager
Sarah Hidgen...Marketing manager
Brad Lenhart...Production manager
Michelle Garland.Asst. production manager
Michael Lehm...Classified manager
Henry Hill...Sales and marketing adviser
Letters should be typed, double-spaced and less than 200 words and must include her writing's signature, name, address and telephone number. If the writer is affiliated with the University of Kansas, please include class and hometown, or faculty or staff position.
faculty or staff positions should be typed, double-spaced and less than 700 words. The writer will be photographed.
writer will be photographed.
The Kansan reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. All letters or brought to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Filial Hall, Letters, columns and cartoons are the opinion of the writer or cartoonist and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University Daily Kansan. Editors, which appear in the left-hand column, are the opinion of the Kansan editorial board.
The University Daily Kansan (USP5 650-640) is published at the University of Kansas, 118 Boulder-First Hall, Lawrence, Kan. 60404, daily during the regular school year, excluding Saturday, Sunday, holidays and final periods, and during the summer session. Second-class postage is paid in Lawrence, Kan. 60404. Annual subscriptions by mail are $50. Student subscriptions are $3 and are paid through the student activity fee.
subscription providers. MAST send address changes to the University Daily Kansas, 118
POSTMAST. Fint-Hall, Lawrence, Kan. 60405
Stauffer-Fint-Hall, Lawrence, Kan.
Confessions of a Network Dropout With a VCR, even Dan Rather can still provide some non-cable entertainment
More and more of us are Network Dropouts. That's not news, of course, since there have been countless stories and studies done on the shrinking audience of the TV networks.
audience of the iT networks.
But I didn't realize how far away I had dropped until I happened to glance at the Nielsen ratings of the top 71 shows for last week
Of those top 71 shows, during the week I had not watched even one.
"Hard as it might be to believe, I have never seen the 'Bill Cosy Show,' which has the top rating. Despite it's popularity, I don't like happy family shows. They're unreal. If I watch a family show, I prefer something lifelike, such as "Death of a Salesman."
In fact of all 71, I could count only five that I had ever seen in my entire life. And of those five, there isn't even one that I now watch regularly.
As for the second- and third-rated shows — things called "A Different World" and "Golden Girls" — I've never heard of them. If I want to see a different world, I'll drive out to the West Side of Chicago or visit the Bronx in New York.
Mike Royko
I helped I to watch "Chers," which is still in the top 10, but gave it up after Diane left and Sam lasted using a career-crazed jypie female. I didn't think even Sama could sink that low.
Am I the only person in the United States who has never watched a segment of "Dallas?" A few years ago, I recall, somebody important was killed on the last segment and almost everybody in America was caught up in the hype. I think I watched wrestling that night. The acting was of a higher quality.
It's not that I'm snobbish. Just the opposite. I enjoy TV trash as much as the next slob. But the quality of truly trash trash has declined. I was one of the first writers in America to recognize the
Syndicated columnist
greatness of Robin Leach and his "Life Styles of the Rich and Famous." But the last time I looked, he was down to gushing about some rich one-eyed Turk who had the world's largest collection of dead butterflies. Or maybe they were plain dead flies. Whatever, it wasn't my idea of high living.
So, if I don't watch the top 71 shows, what do I watch?
I still watch the networks. But I have learned to exploit and cheat them.
For example, I don't miss a Chicago Bears game. But I seldom watch it while it's being played. Instead, I tape it and find something else to do. Then, late in the afternoon when the game has ended, I play it on my TV through all认识 me, the bubble of the angles, the half-time drivel and even the huddles. By doing this, I can see all the action in about 20 minutes instead of three hours.
I watch movies, but only on the cable pay channels, never the networks. Why? Four reasons.
channels, never the networks. Why? Four reasons.
One: There are no commercials. The noted shrink Dr. I.M. Kookie believes that every time a person watches a TV commercial, about 1,000 of his brain cells die. So if you watch 40 commercials a night, that is 40,000 brain cells gone. By the time you are 41, half of your brain will be dead and you face a bleak future, unless you run for vice-
president
Two: Late on Friday night they put on some real dirty movies. Not that I enjoy this smut, but I'm fascinated by the dramatic advances medical science has made in the bodily use of silicone.
Three: There is a channel called American Movie Classics. Watching these old movies, I'm amazed that scriptwriters were once capable of doing an entire movie without having a car crash scene, a helicopter chase, a decapitation, or the female star vell s=-1
Four: By watching the other movie channels, which show more recent films, I learn how really bad most of today's movies have become. Most of them are about teen-agers who跑 around yelling s--! and maniacs who cut the teen-agers into little pieces. How many inspirational movies do they think I can stand?
To be fair, once in a while, they show a decent movie. The other night I saw a love story. It was about a young scientist who accidentally turned himself into a giant cockroach. He was about to eat his beautiful girlfriend, but then it had a surprisingly pleasant ending. At the last moment, she turned into a giant cockroach, too, and they lived happily ever after.
happily ever after.
I would be dishonest if I didn't admit that I watch the network news. But I watch it my way, I tape Dan Rather, without listening. Then when he's done, I turn the sound all the way down and fast forward through his show.
forward through his show.
Believe me, if you liked the old Charlie Chaplin movies, you'll enjoy seeing Rather on fast forward.
■ Mike Royko is a syndicated columnist who writes for the Chicago Tribune.
Since my graduation, I have been employed steadily as a musician and have been proud to point to KU as partially responsible for my training.
I had the good fortune to study piano at KU with Nelita True, among others, in the mid- 1960s.
training.
However, I returned to Murphy Hall for the Late 60s Reminis in mid-October. From that point on, I cannot recommend the University of Kansas School of Fine Arts, nor will I mention it with regard to my own background
Most disappointing, however, was the condition of the practice facilities. I had to try at least 12 pianos before finding one whose keys all worked, to say nothing of finding one in tune.
Murphy Hall shows little sign of prideful maintenance over the years.
How those students with perfect pitch must suffer!
True, acoustic piano is not as popular as in the past. But I saw no evidence of futuristic keyboards either. What a shame that KU doesn't care about quality anymore.
Lynn Scott
Omaha, Neb., resident
Class of 1967
Injustice in U.S.
The United States of America has refused to give a visa to Palestine Liberation Organization chairman Yassir Arafat that would allow him to give a speech to the United Nations in New York because Arafat is a "terrorist."
I have a few objections. First, the United Nations' sole purpose is to bring nations together to solve international conflicts. Second, the United Nations is international territory and not owned by the United States. Third, the United States has welcomed the likes of Jose Napoleon Duarte of El Salvador, the Marcos family, Menace Begin and Isaac Shamir.
but of course, we know that the United States holds the key to justice, truth and righteousness. This country screams to the world, "We are the most just nation in the world and therefore going to bomb the hell out of anyone, such as Libya, who does not see it the way we do."
To tell you the truth, all I see is a nation that has drowned in its twisted egocentric self-right-eousness. A terrorist in the United States is whomever they want it to be. These inconsistencies dey logic. The United States has somewhere and somehow drifted from its self-proclaimed path of justice into the Twilight Zone. It has become a schizophrenic who has taken on two personalities. One is the "Patron Saint of Justice" and the other is the "Evil Lord of Darkness." The sorry part is it no longer knows the difference.
That reminds me of a story I once read where Alexander the Great asks a pirate, "Why do you ravage the sea?" The pirate answers, "Because I do it with a small boat I am called a pirate; because you do it with a fleet you are called an emperor."
Aida Dabbas
Alda Dabas Manhattan graduate student
BLOOM COUNTY
by Berke Breathed