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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 11, 1968)
The Daily Nebraskan Friday, October 11, 1968 AILY ditorials Commemiitarf Page 2 D NEBRASKAN I -3 1 Ifl i ? - li 4 , - . V S t t.V ... 1. V V Tie silent owes, caught shouting Since its birth, Hyde Park has been dominated by students of a radical bent, shaggy-haired seekers after truth who have inveighed against racism and Vietnam with all the might their mouths can mus ter. They have hurled enough words against the citadel of apathy to have moved mountains, if mountains were so moved. Last year it seemed the institution had one foot in the grave and the other in Don Sutton'i mouth. This year Hyde Park has blossomed as never before, and even Mount Apathy has begun to tremble, with results not entirely pleasant. THE TRADITIONAL speakers at Hyde Park, accustomed to battling in the cannon's mouth, have learned to reason, to speak quietly, to listen to the other side. Not so those who have arisen from the cave of silence. Excited, perhaps, by the sound of their own voices, those who stood to challenge radical speakers yesterday displayed all the reason of a rabid bull battering down a barn. They screamed, gesticulated wildly, and repeatedly shouted down their opponent whenever he said anything with which they differed. (At times they even shouted down speakers agreeing with them.) - The worst offenders were a student from Cuba and a young man with his fraternity emblem emblazoned on his jacket. The pair labelled Dave Bunnell, a member of Nebraska students for Peace and Freedom, a communist and requested at one point that he go to Vietnam and have his head blown off to make the world better for everyone. When David, displaying the patience of Job, quietly questioned their ideas they answered with wildly insane ravings, their cohorts on the sidelines shouting "spook' 'at Bunnell on the speaker's podium. After all the criticism the New Left has receiv ed for occasionally intolerant tactics, it is ironic to'see living proof that the New Left can still claim to be the best friend of love and peace, and the right wing its worst enemy. If the screamers had quieted down, the debate in question could have been quite interesting. Bun nell was castigating the United States for its paranoiac fear of communism in any form, a fear that has led to the support, tacit or otherwise, of- the likes of Batista, Juan Peron, Franco and "Papa Doc" Duvalier. THIS ARGUMENT is so valid even John Ken neth Galbraith, a "respected economist not quite associated with the Peace and Freedom movement, has taken it up. ' But the new-found Hyde Park hecklers, with tactics reminiscent of Hitler's brownshirts, refused to answer the questions, returning again and again to slogans, fear tactics or mere volume to avoid confronting the issue. Hyde Park is a revealing institution, one of the better things going right now. If the right-wing continues to misuse it, however, it cannot function as an open, thought-provoking forum. Jack Todd J. L. Schmidt . . . Up Up -n Under Blue bird in the sky Tell me what yon Moody Blues Underground radio is in Lincoln, and typically Nebraskan, since its on the top story of one of Lincoln's tallest buildings. I don't want to take anything away from Will Fowler and the boys down at KFMQ, I think they are doing a great thing, especially for the perpetuation of music in Nebraska. "I listen to the progressive rock show on my television set. Between channels 8 and 9 on my selector, with my rabbit ears aimed to the west, I get the full benefit of music, plus one of the wierdest light shows I have seen. I don't advocate that everyone do this to their television, but I would like to suggest that everyone tune in on some progressive rock music. .PROGRESSIVE ROCK, plain and simple rock nrusic that features extra improvisation and ex tended solos with complexity in both lyrics and rbjrthm, seems to be taking the country by storm. lVlias found its true outlet in the world of FM radio. FM, the radio once for old maids and recluses ... but no more. m . One of the primary movers of progressive rock music in this country has been the group called The Cream. Though they don't have a single EtSUSh hit on the charts their album, Disraeli Gears, Isntffportedly a million seller. They also have released a new album: Wheels of Fire, to celebrate their million seller. One half of this album was recorded liv3 at Fillmore Auditorium, and rendered with mors finesse than most of their previous work: . The Cream U going to be in concert at Des Moines Vets Auditorium, in Des Moines. Iowa oa Monday evening. This will be their last American tour and probably the last chance for people in this area to see and hear them. The Des Moines promoter has assured me that there will be plenty of seats, but get there early, cause they're bussing 'em in from Kansas City. 1 If you can't make the scene in Des Moines buy one of their album- or tune it to KFMQ Progressive Rock Show simp -u-eht and take your aesthetics for a trip in the underground. Dick Gregory . . . The black majority Among the current crop of film offerings is a most interesting movie entitled "Wild in the Streets." It is based on the quite valid statistical observation that 52 per cent of the nation's popula tion is 25 years of age or younger. In another decade, 80 per cent of the population will fall within that age group. Black people in America have learned from personal experience that this nation does not take the opinions of its minorities seriously. Nor will the problem-solving, decision-making capacities be given to the "over-thirty minority" in years to come. I SPEND more than 90 per cent of my time on college campuses because I have always believ ed the moral revolution which is sweeping our country today is not a matter of black against white. It is simply right against wrong. The peace movement has brought this truth out into the open, especially on the college campuses, and has greatly benefited the civil rights movement by expanding moral outrage and protest activity to cover all wrong. A simple illustration will serve to focus the current youth attitude. It is possible for me to check into a hotel some night and burn to death in my sleep if the hotel catches fire. But I would never check into a hotel which is already on fire with the intention of going to sleep! The young people of America, both black and white, know that this country is on fire and they have no intention of sleeping through the moral revolution. And those youth represent the greatest moral potential in the history of this country, perhaps even the history of the world. To understand the ferment on the college cam pus today, you must have some perspective of recent history. When the civil rights movement first began, there were many honest and sincere white kids who wanted a piece of that action but their parents prohibited their involvement. It is like the mother who tells her son that he can't play football because he might get hurt. So the kid becomes an all-American basketball player. He had to get involved in some sports activi ty, and basketball was all mother would allow. In like manner, the white youth who are seizing college administrations and protesting the war in Vietnam today really wanted to be involved in the early days of the civil rights movement. And the parents who forbade that involvement fed and nurtured the resentment their kids are expressing now. . WHITE YOUTH all over America today are; resisting the oppressor and identifying with the opDressed. It is the reverse of what we black folks used to do. We went from the bottom of our feet to the top of our heads trying to be white When black folks came to this country as slaves, we didn't wear shoes or good clothing. But we put on the white man's shoes, his socks, his underwear, his shirt and his tie. We even tried to change our physical appear ance in our effort to be white. We grew moustaches to cover our thick lips. Since nappy hair is not a white characteristic, we got processes to straighten out that problem. But every effort we made to Impress the white man had no affect on his determination to oppress us. As a result, there has been a change in attitude. Negroes have developed a new pride in being black. Black folks consider it a badge of honor to he themselves, to be natural, and have rejected the unnatural obsession with trying to be white. And the new mood of black identity is being shared by white youth all over America. Young white kids are acting colored talking loud, playing their music loud, saying, "what's happenin', baby." and even cussing like the black folks. There used to be a white way of cussing. But today, when it comes to cussing, America is the "mother" country for both white and black youth. Blackness is not a color, it is an attitude. No matter what statistics the census bureau may publish, the youth of America are demonstrating a black majority. m Inside report Mi , mm U), V biting letters hurt Ik by Roland Evans and Robert Novak WASHINGTON The true dimension of Vice President Hubert Humphrey's alienation from the anti-war Democratic liberals, and hence his own problem in unifying the party, was dramatically shown in a recent exchange of letters between him and Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. Humphrey's first letter to Schlesinger, in fact, had unmistakable earmarks of a tirade, setting a mood and tone that could only make a mockery of its ostensible purpose to obtain Schlesinger's support for his nomination. Dear Editor: Supposing that an army is necessary, conscription will probably be necessary at times. Our Selective Service System is no' entirely fair. However, there will never be fairness in a situation where some do not fight and others do, where some who fight die and others live. John Dietz asks, "How could I possibly accept deferment and the security of life, knowing that it was being purchased in blood by my conscripted brothers? . . . No man kills or dies on my behalf." I REPLY THAT ho IS gaining leferment from military duty by his course of action while his conscripted (and volunteer) brothers are killing and dying. He is ac cepting the security of prison rather than the insecurity of the battlefield. 1 believe many draft resisters are sincere and have worthy motives. I a 1 s a suspect that many conscious ly or unconsciously sepfc - shift attention from their V a cowardice by claiming that war is "immoral" or that the draft violates their constitu tional "rights." They also attempt to make their refusal to join the Arm ed Forces appear more justifiable by portraying the Armed Forces as assemblages of sadists, rascists, morons, cowards, and bullies. One fleeing to Canada might be considered a coward by society and perhaps even by hinself. Ey "courageously" choos i: , jail, a draf-resisier becomes a noble martyr, salving his own conscience and gaining the acclaim and respect of segments of society- Tell me again about how more courage is required to face a year or two in a (possibly resort-like) prison than to trudge through a booby-trapped jungle where bullets are-hurtling. A few of those fleeing to Canada might at least be frank enough to admit they fled because they Dailv !elraskan set t.it ! raiitaer pail .1 Murom Nrti , TE1 KPHOMKS Editor 72 JSHII Nw 7?-2H Bunlnew tn-WW Sul.srr.otk. ! wi "-rotate. r1emir Pubhh Mi.nrta. wwtnta Tho.wiay ,nn 'Ntel "turin l "-to"' nn-ni lunnr vanmniw nr rr tier-no. by the -rodent- a " "jr' of Nebraska .-nrt -. th. urid-tinr m the ""mulr Suhnmnjitir .n stud' M Pttnli.mnn. "uh'H'Hnnn. thall ' 'mm -er.-or.hip rrv the SuKn.mm.rirp or any p-i-M- -Ml-." thf finivvrar). Mmlw the Mehraakar w -eMtrm.ir.1. tor what he raue. bp printed M-mhe taMV rolimrt.ir .- ..n. -,rlUi'tH.na. averttwn -rryirr Editorial Staff Mitw Jar I odd; Manauinn Mil... so -. ik.uif . fcditui i.yua laittwluuk. Nichi cw. Editm kern ('nrkwn. F.rt.l..iiai Pair .wnl MnJ. Murrell. "Mlnl Nicht Editor John Kranda: Sports Ed'tor Mark Gordon. Aiwisunl oporta tailor Band. Vork. Synun Stall Wrtler Jonn Dvu.ak Larry MUioH. Geo. ilf hauiii.ali Joiir (M.irrn Jin. Hader-m. Junior xtatl WH Ban rtennu.. tarry O.oht. Holly Rowntw.er R.ll Smith, man Tontir. Winkln . Spmoi I tipy Mm.. Joan Kuuuner: Copv ErM..r Phylh". dkisaon Havr Fillni Jura? K'aKtiomi. ndrea Wooda; Photo Kraph fhirt I'an Lad!y. Prmtn-raobt" .r Shaw. rtisU Hrrnl Skinner an oai' Pleatintan Business Staff BlKuu-m Manacer J L. Schmkll: Hookkawr Katun Boye: Prodwuon Maim! ohn f lrm.nt; National 4d Manacci f rit. Shturnfiker: Rusuvb Srwetary and .'lanllK-d Art. I.inda I'lrith; Subscription Manner .Ian Boatman; Cirrulauon Man wnr Ron Pavelka. Rf k Doran. Sal -m. r Vie. Brow. Joai Oovia. Cktua Fnodt. Naiicjt GuUUatt. Dan Looker, Todd Haughter. didn't want to be shot at. Kant's test of morality for an action was, "Can I will ethoi ti taoin mf fw wyp wy p that my action be universalized?" Draft resistance would pass this test. However, WILL it be universalized? What would Happen if it were "universalized" only in this country? (and not in Red China and Russia, etc.) IDEALISTIC PRO TESTORS perform a useful service when they draw at tention to hypocrisy and cor ruption in o u r society and government However, I believe the Christian view is that mankind will never achieve a Utopia during mortal life. A few protesters apparently have the notion that if they could destroy present institu tions, a Utopia would automatically appear. I do not overlook the fact that Christianity also stresses hat we have the responsibility of striving incessantly to help mankind, thereby m "ij? this wtirld closer to 'Jt. Paul Bondo But quite apart from biting the hand Humphrey had hoped would feed him, the Vice President's letter to Schlesinger, the noted historian who now holds the Albert Schweitzer chair at the City University of New York, was another in a thick catalogue of shoot-from-the-hip letters written by Humphrey during his frustrating experience as Lyndon Johnson's Vice President. Many of these letters were dictated in momentary anger, an i then dropped into the wastebasket. Not so with Humphrey's July 9 letter to Schlesinger, in which the Vice President wrote: "IT IS DOWNRIGHT insulting from a man of your intelligence to have you accuse me of being all wrapped up in the 1930s and the 1940s. My biggest problem in public life has been that I have been too far ahead of the times ... I have been a leader, and you know it. So, in the parlance of the street, knock it off." For months leading up to the Democratic Na tional Convention, Schlesinger had worked hard for the late Sen. Rotrt F. Kennedy's candidacy Afer Kennedy's murder on June 5, Schlesinger continued to speak out against the Vietnam war. but he refused to join either of Kennedy's principal rivals, Sen. Eugene McCarthy or Humphrey. Thus the stage was set in early June for David Ginsburg, one of Humphrey's most influential inside advisors, to write Schlesinger and ask him to come out for Humphrey. Schlesinger hastened to reply to Ginsburg, ex pressing sympathy for Humphrey's political pro blems and setting forth his own familiar argument against the Johnson-Humphry war policy. He noted that Humphrey himself had said on May 27 that if Nixon became the Republican nominee for Presi dent, his own and Nixon's views on the war would be scarcely distinguishable. If that was to be the shape of the campaign. Schlesinger wrote Ginsburg, many anti-war Democrats might acutally vote for Nixon so that their political battle to end the war would not be compromised by having a Democrat in the White House. Ginsburg decided that Schlesinger's letter had enough meat in it to warrant showing it to Hum phrey, and he obtained Schlesslnger's permission. The result was the Vice President's letter of Julv 9, so inflammatory that members of the Vire President's own campaign staff could not stop talk ing about it after it was mailed. "Don't overrate yourself, Arthur," Humphrev wrote in' that July 9 letter. "No one's trying to blackmail you or anyone else into coming over to support my candidacy. On the basis of your earlier and more mature liberal convictions, you ought to be supporting me, but undoubted1" something has happened . . . that has made you angry and bitter. These are two qualities tha'. destroy a healthy sense of liberalism." THERE WAS MORE. Humphrey (whose owr: agent had solicited Schlesinger's views) accuse ! Schlesinger of making "snide comments" abont his liberal record and defended his refusal to entp the primaries on grounds that there wasn't ti- - after his late-Aprial announcement. Besides, he s?'1 John F. Kennedy "surely didn't get the nominate i because he was in the primaries" a statement no Democratic politician wou'd agree with. Altocehter. however, the correspond?" " reveals how defensive Humphrey is in -tryinf bring Schlesinger. McCarthy, and the a"nti-v -liberals under his banner. He knows that without them hp irobablv lose the election, but eff-vt to gain iieir support by righteous vindictiveness can only be counterproductive. (rl lm Put.IUhtr.-HaU Sradirale 1 ii inn" i it limit iPWW II