The Daily Nebrask.cn
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1968
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John Schrekinger . . .
A "moderate" view
I absolve myself of all responsibility for this
messl? If society can't be the way I want it,
I quit!? or, since "the system" is completely cor
rupt, it must be destroyed!? The (communists,
anarchists, "establishment", Jack Todd, etc.) are
(is) to blame for (or are increasing) our problems
, and something should be done about them (him).
I (my group Left or Right) know (s) the
1Z problems of society, and we have all the answers!?
"Chicken Little, was right the sky is falling,
, "Z the world is coming to an end, morality is dying,
life isn't w rfth a damn, etc, etc, etc ! ?
ADMITTEDLY SOME of the above statements
I ' are exaggerations and gross over-simplifications
of what some people are really saying. These
' "' statements do, however, illustrate an important
point: the extreme, intolerant, and simplistic view
"V a number of people are taking of the complex
problems of society today.
' It is especially amazing that so many very
- intelligent people take such views. Whatever
became of the rational, constructive, issue-oriented,
problem-solving approach to such complex matters?
"" At this point a number of people might resort
to the expedient of calling me a "liberal", "sell-
- out", an "intellectual," and worse ... It is very
unfortunate when intelligent people try to pass off
" shouting, name-calling, and empty rhetoric as a
product of their thought processes.
Being "open-minded" is condemned from both
the Left and the Right. "Confrontation" is in vogue
on the Left, with little thought given to determining
. its applicability to a given specific situation
Repression of "anarcists" and "communists" is
the cure-all of the Right to "protect" the
"American way of life." Drastic cure-all measures
are urged by both the followers of George Wallace,
and the followers of Carl Davidson and other SDS
' prophets.
IT SEEMS TO me that "radicals" of all kinds
are essentially abdicating their responsibilities as
thinking citizens; they are, in fact, taking the easy
way out by refusing to use their intelligence to
solve complex problems. Instead they accept an
easy, usually vague, ("Revolution" or "law and
order") answers to the ills of society.
They are in this sense "pseudo-intellectuals'
as George would say; of course, George is a
"pseudo-American" because he calls for the
destruction of the basic American ideais in fact,
while he is mouthing them as ideals. Both groups
are expressing two basic American tendencies: (1)
self-righteously declaring oneself an authority on
"the one way" to define and achieve the "good
life" and (2) Declaring oneself the saviour, and,
if need be, the martyr, who will lead all the "sin
ners" of the world (or at least the U.S.) down
the path to "righteousness."
All people are hypocrites in one way or another
to a greater or lesser extent. Radicals of all
kinds are also hypocrites, except that they seem
less prone than others to recognize their own in
consistencies. At the same time, they are more
than willing to point out the shortcomings of others.
THEIR IDEOLOGICAL approach to life has
led many of them to believe that they have a
monopoly on the moral, the "right", and the
- "good." They tend to be elitist and to look down
on the "unenlightened". Many seem to look at
neither themselves nor others as human beings
each with his own peculiar set of strengths
and failings.
While demanding to be treated as unique in
dividuals, many in the "New Left" curse the
"establishment", the "administration," etc. as a
group as a unitary entity rather than as
a group of individuals human beings. They
sometimes demand to be heard while denying those
whom they disagree with the same right.
They condemn the groupiness and exclusiveness
of others while practicing it themselves. While con-
"T " Avtoncivalo in t'ifir own pt nf nnrms Oftpn thev
are intolerant; while refusing to compromise their
views one iota, they demand that others im
mediately give up equally firmly held views.
.
THEY ARE OFTEN the apostles of gloom and
doom, and the prophets of the self-fulfilling pro
phesy; by expecting the worst, they are rarely
disappointed but also rarely do much to improve
things to a point somewhat short of perfection.
By demanding all or nothing, they usually get
nothing. They often "cut off their noses to spite
their faces." In general, many in the "New Left"
or of associated sympathies, seem to enjoy wallow
ing in their cynicism, sarcasm, martyrdom,
defeatism, and self-pity. Similar criticisms could
be made of the Right.
It is time to start facing reality, and to stop
playing ideological games. There is too much in
this country, and in this world te do for people
to waste their time and energy in self-defeating,
destructive activity. It is time to realize all ot
us share a common humanity and a common
responsibility for our fellow man as well as for
ourselves.
Radicals and idealists can serve a positive
function as the "conscience" of society, but they
will play this role better if they accept themselves
land others as ordinary, fallible, human beings.
It would do everyone good to examine his own
particular set of strengths and weaknesses, as well
as those of society. However, it is always easier
to criticize then to evaluate and suggest positive
alternatives or corrective action. This should 'be
the next stop for the individual with regard to
himself as a person and as a member of human
society. More about this next time . . .
in time for the hollydays
Yes i was deducted
into the arm-y;
given a post in N.Y.
(at the harbor)
giftrwrapping
arms and legs
and rotted innards
and sending them home
to parents and loved ones
in time for the holidays.
Included, of course,
were lovely cards
saying Dear Fill-In-The-Blank
This, I'm afraid,
is what's left of your son
(or husband, or father, or such)
and we hope you enjoy
spending the holidays together.
He did bravely of course
(we assume)
and assorted medals
will soon arrive
In time for the holidays.
Anonymous
mm
WW
IT
Ma. NUulwua tytfcm
Editorials
Commentar
Dan Looker . . .
Peaceful Lincoln, home of paranoids, etc.
Lincoln, Nebraska is a
peaceful town, unknown to
most of the nation except for
a few tourists who notice the
Interstate 80 sign "LINCOLN
NEXT FOUR EXITS" or the
few grade school students
who remember that it is the
capitol of Nebraska, or the
big eight fans who happened
to tune in one Saturday when
a Nebraska game was on
television.
Its residents would tell you
that it has no problems, no
smog, no real organized
crime, no racial violence or
student unrest. Just a nice
clean town.
Yet, if you walk into the
Lincoln Journal newsroom,
you will notice that among the
usual newspaper gadgetry
there is a box of riot helmets
quietly collecting dust. Scat
tered around the room are
several large flashlights.
IT IS REPORTED that
employees of the University
Administration Building have
been briefed on how to batten
down the ship before an on
coming storm of student
radicals.
The Lincoln Police are
Our man Hoppe
rumored to have bought a
machine that sprays a cloud
of mace into the air.
But at the present time, the
only cloud floating over the
prairie city of Lincoln,
Nebraska, is a cloud of
paranoia.
One girl who has long,
straight, dark-brown hair was
told by her employer to pin it
up before coming to work
because she "looked like a
hippie."
AFTER THE ELECTION.
the editor of the Lincoln Star
was told in a letter that nineteen-year-olds
were denied
the right to vote because of
youths who wear long hair,
tight pants, and beards, and
because of "daughters who
are no longer virgins." (As if
long hair and virginity had
anything to do with one's
conduct in a voting booth.)
Clearly, there is something
irrational about all this.
That's obvious, but it's a little
harder to pin down the causes
of this subtle insanity.
The roots of it seem to be
fear and ignorance. That good
old Midwestern pro
vinicialism makes things
tough on a University town
during the era of "student
power."
The burden of remedying
this paranoia seems to fall,
not on Lincoln, but on the
liberals among the students
(some of them are radicals
and all of tiiem are called
radicals by some) and the
liberals among the faculty (it
is said there ARE some in
certain unique departments).
THE BURDEN WOULD
seem to fall on ASUN. They
ARE our leaders, aren't they?
(i)on't tell me you haven't
ever heard Craig Dreeszen,
Tom Morgan, Curt
Donaldson, and Sue
Thompson.)
And that includes the
"conservatives" as well as
the radicals in senate. It
would be nice to see some of
them come up with a few
ideas, instead of just going to
senate meetings and voting.
It is usually those so-called
conservatives who have the
maturity tnd insight to
understand the paranoid fears
of the' University that the
Lincoln community
sometimes shows. Why aren't
they coming up with ideas of
their own about this problem
in communications?
THE BURDEN ALSO falls
on faculty senate and its
group with that wondrous and
dynamic title "The Com
mittee On Committees."
Why not "faculty power?"
The faculty certainly has "the
facts" at their collective
hands. Every faculty member
is concerned about how those
provincial state senators vote
on the University budget, but
what have they done to im
prove the University's image
outstate? (One notable ex
ception to this criticism is the
ag college.)
Much could be done, if all of
us, those strange members of
,the University community,
'cared just a little more, if we
tried just a little harder.
Believe it or not, time is
running out. The dust will
continue to collect on those
riot helmets in Lincoln,
Nebraska, but there will be
more C h i c a g o s , more
Detroit and more Colum
bias, and then the fog of
paranoia in Lincoln, and
Bismarck, and in Topeka and
Dayton and Des Moines will
thicken.
'Hoo Dat' on first base in treaty talks?
by Arthur Hoppe
It was in the 43rd year of
our lightning campaign to
wipe the dread Viet-Narian
guerrillas out of West Vhtnng.
After years of se c r e t
negotiations, the long-awaited
Peace Talks at last got
underway in Paris.
Present for the historic oc
casion were representatives
of the four belligerents.
FIRST TO ENTER was the
fiendish agent of the dread
Viet-Narians. a gorgeous
former beauty queen with a
46-incb bust named Miss How
Bot Dat.
Close behind came the wily
protege of the wily Com
munist premier of East
Vhtnnng ' the obsequious
Dat Sma Boi.
Another door opened and in
marched the courageous
leader of West Vhtnnng the
famous General Hoo Dat Dan
Dar. He as followed by the
Loyal Royal Army Band
playing the West Vhtnnngian
National Anthem. "Foreigr
Aid Forever!"
And lastly came the U.S
Ambassador. He looked wor
ried.
"WELL. GENTLEMEN."
said the A m b a s s a d o i
nervously, "all mankini U
praying that we shall put
aside our diffr -jives and . . .
'Just a minute!" inter
rupted General Hoo in
dignantly. "You clearly pro
mised me the center chair on
our side of the table. And not
only is it not quite in the
center, but it doesn't have
arm rests. Furthermore, my
name plate is too small and
East Vhtnnng has one more
water glass than I do."
"Well, I'm sure we ... "
began the Ambassador.
"STOP!"SAlD WILY Dat
Sma Boi. "We wish the record
to show that by 'we' you are
referring to the U.S. Govern
ment and not including some
puppet regime we do not
recognize."
"It is our position," said the
Ambassador, "that General
Hoo is merely a member of
the U.S. delegation. Of
course." he added hastily,
"under a private agreement
between us, he appears to be
the head of it.
"That's funny," said Miss
How Bot Dat, "he doesn't look
American to me."
"EVEN IF I were speaking
to you. which I'm not, l
wouldn't recognize y.u,"
snapped General Hoo. "What
have you done to your hair?"
"That's no way to talk to a
Daily iNehrankan
Second-class ou(aue paid at Lincoln. ch.
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and t Iji'.sH'eil 4d- t.itiita I !m tl Stroud lp' I i ir -int i n n ol.
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Joel D. Uiena Fnendt, Nwlcy Guilhatt, Dan Looker, Todd $irV.
lady," shouted Dat Sma Boi,
"you Yankee imperialist."
"Who's a Yank?" cried
General Hoo. "You jerk. And
she's no lady. She's a figment
of your political imagination.
Henceforth, I'm not speaking
to you either."
"PLEASE," SA I D THE
U.S. Ambassador, wringing
his hands. "You've got to talk
to someone. As head of our
delegation ..."
"You're fired,'' said
General Hoo. "They have
three sharpened pencils each
and you only got me two.
From now on don't speak
unless you're spoken to and
I'm not speaking to you."
And so the first session end
ed three hours later with Miss
How Bot Dat talking to Dat
Sma Boi about crops. General
Hoo talking to no one and the
U.S. Ambassador talking to
himself.
BIT. PUTTING OX a
.rave front, the Ambassador
emerged to tell a waiting
world hat he saw '.iope.
"With extreme patience and
understanding," he said ' the
U.S. is confident we will some
day be able to negotiate a
lasting iruce."
"With whom?" inquired a
puzzle! reporter.
"No." saiH the Amb s Jtr
with ; si"li ' Wi h Hoo."
Chronicle Feair'
Inside report . . .
Nixon neutrality
heartens Scott
by Rowland Evans and Robert Novak
Washington Heartened by a pledge of
neutrality on the part of President-elect Nixon,
liberal Sen. Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania now has
a 50-50 chance to defeat conservative Republican
Sen. Roman Hruska of Nebraska for the job of
assistant Senate Republican leader.
But much will depend on what Sen. Everett
M. Dirksen, the minority leader, decides to do.
Should Dirksen throw all his influence to his close
friend Hruska, instead of quietly supporting him,
Scott would probably be doomed.
DIRKSEN HASN'T said how far he will go
for Hruska. Scott backers have given up hope that
he will either be neutral or support the liberal
Scott, as he supported the now-defeated California
Sen. Thomas Kuchel, also a liberal, when Kuchel
was elected assistant leader 10 years ago. Instead,
Dirksen is vainly suggesting that Scott might be
content to be named chairman of the GOP Senale
Policy Committee.
This year the stakes are much higher than
in 1958. Dirksen is almost 73, has been in poor
health for several years. Whoever is elected to
succeed Kuchel in January will have a powerful
advantage in the battle to succeed Dirksen when
he steps down and will set the ideological tone
of the Republican party in the Senate.
One obstacle to Scott was cleared away when
Kansas Sen. James Pearson, a moderate, decided
not to seek the job, voiding a liberal-moderate
split that would have elected Hruska.
THE NEUTRALITY of Richard Nixon is also
an essential part of Scott's campaign. Nixon has
now let it be known through two intermediaries
that he will take no part in this first post-election
Republican fight.
A footnote: Moderate and liberal Republicans
increased their influence in the Senate in the
November election. Robert Packwood of Oregon,
Richard Schweiker of Pennsylvania, Charles
Mathias of Maryland, and William Saxbe of Ohio
slightly overbalance newcomers Barry Goldwater
of Arizona, Robert Dole of Kansas, and Edward
Gurney of Florida.
Triple-Threat Harlow
The transcendant importance to Nixon of Bryce
Harlow, his first publicly-named White House
assistant, is evident in the fact that it was Harlow
whom President Johnson telephoned the night after
he and Nixon sealed their unprecedented compact
to act in unison in vital foreign policy matters
during the transition period.
Mr. Johnson once tried to hire Harlow as his
assistant during the Johnsonian Senate era. The
President picked up the phone on Monday night,
only hours after he and Nixon had their White
House unity-talk, to telephone Harlow in Manhattan.
THE GIST OF Mr. Johnson's message: that
if anything happened in Washington or in Nixon
headquarters in New York to disturb the Johnson
Nixon compact, Nixon should know it did not
emanate from the White House or Mr. Johnson.
Harlow is the only Nixon intimate who has
ever been on close terms with Mr. Johnson.
A footnote: Harlow will be on official leave
of absence from Procter and Gamble, just as Neil
McElroy was when he left that company to become
Secretary of Defense. Procter and Gamble has
no government contracts.
McCormack Under Fire
Disagreement within the liberal Democratic
Study Group (DSG) in the House all but guarantees
that Speaker John W. McCormack will remain as
Speaker next year, even if the effort now being
threatened to ease him out is actually attempted.
At least one leading DSG member Rep.
Philip Burton of California has told DSG
chairman James O'Hara of Michigan that he will
oppose any fight against the aging (76 next month)
Speaker.
DESPITE THIS defection, top DSG members
met here on Wednesday and decided that if they
could make a close contest of it that is, come
within 20 votes or so they might challenge
McCormack.
Attending the meeting were O'Hara and Reps.
Richard Boiling, Mo., John Brademus, Ind., Morris
Udall, Ariz., Don Eraser, Minn., and Frank
Thompson, N.J. A subcommittee was named o
see whether Rep. Carl Albert of Oklahoma, the
majority leader, would allow his name to be put
in nomination for Speaker against McCormack.
The first target of liberal Democrats, however,
is not to upset McCormack but to punish Rep.
John R. Rarick of Louisiana for having supported
George Wallace for President. The second target
is to place liberal and moderate Democrats In
four Democratic vacancies on the Judiciary Com
mittee. A leading prospect with DSG backing: Rep.
elsct Richardson Pryor of North Carolina, a former
feJeral judge.
That will be the business end of the DSG's
a enda for the start of the 91st Congress. The
b ttit against McCormack, if it happens at al',
w U have only symbolic value, with no chance
o.r success.
(c) 18 Publishers-Hall Syndicate
