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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 20, 1968)
The Daily Nebraskcn WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, U PAGE 2 Vietnam, Biafra: Why and ivhy not Although this newspaper is unequivocally op- posed to our involvement in Vietnam and in favor of unilateral withdrawal from that nation, we have chosen not to waste editorials on the subject because so much hot air has already been expended in that direction to no avail. Yesterday, however, the Omaha World Herald did us the favor of writing against it in their lead editorial, though the opposi tion was probably unnoticed by their editors. Under the title "Not America's War," the World Herald said: "Senator Edward M. Kennedy was 'not talking about help for the starving ... a humanitarian enterprise which appeals to decent men everywhere, but about active United States intervention in this bitter civil war. "THIS CIVIL WAR is a political and military " mess in which the national interest of the United !-r -States is in no way involved. It is a foreign policy area in which the Johnson Administration has "" demonstrated good judgment (read: should have demonstrated good judgntent) by staying out and -keeping quiet." The editorial goes on to applaud Richard Nixon -'-for saying: "America's goal is not to intervene in the civil war not to take sides between armies." This, the World Herald says, "is a sound American position." i. , "We hope that Senator Kennedy also means v;,no more than diplomatic or economic intervention ' - and for the limited purpose of feeding the starv , .'ing. For the United States to become involved - militarily in a fight in which our country's vital interests are not at stake should be unthinkable." . The World Herald, of course, was referring to Biafra. But the arguments, if you read Vietnam for Biafra, hold up in every case. They apply .-- ','to Vietnam, in fact, even in places in which they do not apply to Biafra. lA That the World Herald is unable to observe the connection between their stance on Biafra and , a logical stance on Vietnam stems from one fact anti-Communist hysteria. If anything will destroy 't. us, that is it. Anyone with a mind uncluttered with Joe McCarthy ideas about the imminent com- ",'7. munist takeover would be able to see that a com munist regime would be no worse for South Vietnam "" than the Diem regime we went in to support or T" the Thieu-Ky regime we are presently killing ourselves for. THE MINDS IN POWER, however, are minds schooled by World War II. It's us against them, Jbaby, no grays, just black and white, good guys and bad. A contributor to this page a couple of weeks :go, in the midst of a letter cluttered with sugges tions about how I could better my future by building Homecoming displays, pointed out that the boys of the thirties who built Homecoming displays helped fight and win World War II. We would Unlike to point out also that those are the men who T are now unequipped to understand a world that is anything short of barbarian. Those are the boys who talk now about the slanteyed gooks we've r. got to kill and fill all their dreams with nightmares - about hordes of "comyanasts" descending on their I beds. The nightmare runs deep. A visitor in this office assured me the other day that there are - over 150.000 registered "comyanasts" in California alone. Therefore, any protest against our govern ment is quite natarally the work of these hordes of dirty pinkos and a help to all those dirty foreign governments who want to destroy ns. V.. The fact is that there are foreign governments" " who want to destroy us, and that we are doing rthe job for them through blatant stupidity in our foreign affairs. With our present international stance, rooted in fear, we have been unable to act in a rational 1 manner. We create genocide in Vietnam in the - name of anti-communism, while we encourage IT.genocide in Biafra by our refusal to become involv "" ed. ZL We need something to bring us to our senses., For that reason, we echo the sentiments of the Zl)artmouth valedictorian who observed, "Thank God we're losing that war." iStudent Senate: vaking up Student Senate,- after Rip Van Winkling its way through the past 80 years or so in a manner true lo the spirit of Nebraska, is finally waking up. 35ome of the senators are realizing they have no power. They are realizing that senate until now 2$ias been a Wednesday afternoon club which the .students recognized as tolerable at best, harmless and rediculous at worse. "ZZZ After such a long snooze, it is understandable hat senate is having a little trouble shaking the leep out of its eyes and getting down to business. iThe resolution currently on the docket, calling for H3SUN to become the supreme governing body over all phases of student affairs, is so vaguely worded jjs to be almost meaningless in its present state. 3-" THE INTENT of the bill, which must be written jZ2b before the bill can be effective, is admirable. CThe bill is intended to give senate control over -women's hours (in effect abolishing AWS), student publications and student fees. 2" With tie first and last of these we are in perfect accord. AWS is a reactionary anachronism Twe should be able to live without. Control of student Hfees by anyone other than the students is nothing hort of tyranny. T.ZZ Control over the student press, however, is ;juite another matter. If a board completely ap fointed by ASUN were to pick the staff, or worse TTyet, if the students were to elect th? editor of ;,",pe Nebraskan, the situation would be comparable the Unicameral picking the staff of the Lincoln Journal, or the trusted plebians of the state voting for the editor of the Omaha World Herald. SENATE CONTROL of publications violates every concept of the press except the totalitarian concept. This editorial, for example, could hardly be written if Senate controlled this newspaper. For that reason, we will fight every inch of the way to maintain our independence. In all other aspects, however, we urge that Senate take some power from AWS and the Student Affairs committee and begin using it to benefit the students. Until that happens, we will never have student government at this University. Jack Todd ' ' $ff i ! 1 IP 'W' t ' f ii h 1 1 I I . $ d 1 1 i Mm 111 i ilr 1 M """TnifMlTiir iJTai-aiai fit II f Editorials Commentary J. L. Schmidt . . . Reality Rattles the Windblown Mind It does one's soul good to pull up roots and wander for a time, rolling with the pun ches, letting the wind blow through your mind without really settling down. Colorado migration is old hat now, but fcr one who ex perienced it, the memories will linger on every time a smoke is crushed in the "souvenir" Coor's ashtray. These memories will be many and varied. Some will be of well laid plans gone awry, others will be pleasant memories of things that "just fell into place." THE LATTER describes my trip of last weekend. Starting on Thursday morning with no itinerary other than heading for the mountains, I let my mind go, forgot my troubles and decided that migration was going to be my salvation. Entirely by mistake at day's end I found myself on Denver's infamous Larimer Street, home of bums and derelicts. Heading west look ing for a way out of this area I happened upon Denver's equally famous Larimer Square, a fortress of establishment com mercialization amidst the slummy swill. I vowed to come back to this place in broad daylight and investigate the sights and sounds and indeed, the smel ls. In daylight one has the courage to tackle a rough neighborhood and also to ap preciate more vividly what sensual stimuli are offered. I FIRST looked at Larimer Square as a Mecca for art and culture in the otherwise blah Midwest, but my opinion has changed. One has only to read the brochure on this place which describes it as "a fashionable place to browse and sip and dine in an at mosphere that faithfully reflects the elegance and gayety of Denver's heyday." These are not the words of a starving artist, they are the posh padded words of the commercial establishment. I let myself enjoy the Square and tried to appreciate the fact that there was some art trying to survive in spite of it all. There are craftsmen in their specialty shops which specialize in leather, wood, glass furs and the like. There are also shops full of worthless trinkets and things designed to please the whole family while wrecking the budget- am panning the place I will suffice it to say that you should see it sometime and make up your mind on the question of art versus establishment. I was admit tedly turned on by it at the time and I still have my pleasant memories but thought has proven to be a great equalizer and I can't give any concise conclusive statements. There is more to Colorado than Denver. There is Boulder, a very interesting city set at the foot of the Rockies. There is a city within a city, a University city of buildings and dorms and nightclubs. Checking the mode of dress one gets the feeling that Boulder is a graveyard for all of the old ski boots and surplus clothing that comes drifting down out of the mountains. And of course, many people have let their hair grow to keep out the cold or to keep in the intellect. While the wheels of finance in Boulder (and most of Col orado) click with the sale of 3.2 beer and nightclub enter tainment, there is still a place or two where one can slowly seep into the woodwork and feign intelligence. BUT LEST I sound like I THERE IS a quaint little delicatessan sandwiched in among the bars and clubs in Boulder- Everything from the lox and bagels on the menu to the twelve string guitar and conga drum entertainers sets this place apart. And up the street there is the usual commercialized head shop as well as several specialty shops which share quarters with a billiard parlor. But that's life and life is money. SUNRISE in the mountains is a beautiful thing but it also brings an element of sadness, for each new sunrise marks a new day, one day less to play .at the enjoyment of life. The successive sunrises finally caught up with me and 1 knew that is was time to head back to Lincoln, back to reality and responsibility. The prospect of sticking my head into a paper sack sounded even better. Yes, that was Colorado Migration 1968. Nebraskans who lived with careless abandon have now become their old straight selves. Football fans are still alatedly discussing the excitement of the game ... but a few of us though rapping, are silently plotting the return to the high country, the escape from life. Dear Editor, As a member of the Whit tier Junior High School faculty, I must respond to your report of Tom Wind ham's speech, ( Daily Nebras kan, 10-30-68). I hesitate to bring any further notoriety to Mr. Windham, but even fools must occasionally be accorded this courtesy. A friend of mine has sug gested that, were it not for the fact that Windham is black, he would, in all pro bability, be assigned the obscurity which he merits. IF MR. WINDHAM cares to deal in facts rathei than in dulge in meaingless harangue, here are a few facts that might interest him. A few yers ago Whittier was completely remodeled at an expense of nearly a quarter of a million dollars. Our shops, home economics and .typing laboratories are second to none. Our cafeteria is light and spacious, equipped with the most modern of kitchen appliances. Most classrooms have new desks, and yearly more new ones are being ad ded. Each classroom is equipped with a projector and an overhead projector. Whit tier is one of two junior high schools in ths system to have its own instructional media center, and its library is far superior to those of some other junior high schools in the system. Some "dump"! One member of the in structional staff holds a doc torate, many hold masters degrees, and most of those with bachelor degrees have earned hours beyond that. We do award certificates for athletic achievement at Whittier. We also recognize excellence in art and literary talent. Each semester we Daily Nebraskan Sicitnri-claii nnataee nald at Lincoln. Neb TELEPHONE Editor 472 2MB, N"W 472-2&M). Bunlneaa 47J-2.WU Addrem eorrennondence to Onily Nehraikan, ftiwm 81. Student Union, fjnlverelly of Ncbraika. Lincoln. Nehiaaka 6K5H KubMTlpilnn ralen are U per emeler or t for the acsiemtc veai Puhllnhed Mondty. Wednertv. Tburdy and Friday durlna (he nchnol year except durinii vacation and exam period by the xturtenta ot the l'n(vertl of Nehraika under the Hirt-rtlcllon ot the Faculty Subcommittee on Student Publicati on Publication hnll be tree from cennorxhip by the Suhcnmmitlii or any perfuin outlde the University Member o( Uie NehiaKaD are reaponmblr for what they t-aue to he printed Member 4mocialed Collegiate Preaa. National educational Advertising Service Editorial Staff Editoi Jack Todd: Manauma editor Ed Icenogie Newt Kditot Lynn (iotts chalk. Mxht New Edit'" Kenl C'wkwn; Editorial Paee Aluint Molly Murrrll Attestant Niflht New F.dltor John Kranda; Knnrth Kdilor Murk Gordon, A,iNtaiit SnnrU Kitiloi' Randy Vorki ebrafifcan KuM Writera Jim Kvinuei. .lohti Dvorak Larry Eckholi, Georuc Kaufman. Julie Morrt. Jim Pederen. Terry Grobe. Hill Smiiherman. Connie Winkler; Heritor f opy Editor loan Wagoner; Oipy bdttor I'hvllln Adklmnn. Dave Flltpl June Waunner, Andrea Wood; Photnarapby Chiei Oan l.nnely; Phnumranter J E Shaw; Arlll Gall Pfeaaman Business Staff BooineKi. Miiiihkvi J I. Schmidt. Booakeenei Roeer Bove: Production Man aer John Firming; National Al Manacet Kril Shocmakei . Murine ecretai and riahHilied Art l.imla flrich- Surwcrlpilon Mmin"i Inn Knatitan ! "Ullitt.a, Mnnatfern Bin f'nvplka Rick iinrbn. Adertllrtc rlcnrepentalive Met- Jil bavla. Gle.in Fnendt, Nancy C-jlllall, Dan looker. Todd Slauaitjet recognize all students "vho have achieved excellence in attendance, citizenship, and scholarship. Now I think I'll go have a Windham drink. That's the drink in which you mix one part bourbon, one part vodka, one part gin, and a few minutes after drinking it you don't know what you're saying. Ivan D. Coochey Dear Editor, The redundant nature of your newsheet baffles my journalistic ego. Particularly when I hear of the trite charges of "hippy" and "radical" that flows from the verbal oriface of campus tra dition. May I take this oppor tunity to remind your critics, that in spite of the irrate at tempts of the conservative "editor" of the Daily Nebras kan to publish creative thought, in spite of the Yashins courage of a quasi-middle-of-the-roar' "staff," etc.: the Ra is still Ji 'ri"re houso organ of the Administration. Dave liumicll Dick Gregory . . . Blacks to watch for trust fund By the faintest whimper of popular mandate, Richard Nixon has become the President-elect. He made no play for the support of the black electorate nor did the black ballots cast appreciably increase Nixon's totcl. Yet a different attitude in the black community could have produced a Nixon defeat. Figures compiled by the Democratic National Committee indicate that some 6 million black voters went to the polls on election day, out of the potential 7.2 million. About 91 percent of those voters cast their ballots for Vice-President Humphrey, the re maining votes going to Nixon or "other" candidates. IT IS CLEAR that the total black electorate did not panic when faced with the possibility of a Nixon administration. Such panic would have produced an ever larger black presence at the polls and a greater percentage for Mr. Humphrey. That is, if the black votes cast for independent candidates were combined with a larger voting percentage in the black community, the Humphrey Muskie ticket would now be looking forward to Inauguration Day. In a negative yet very real sense, Nixon owes his victory to the black com munity and the attitude it assumed. Black voters did not do what they did in 1964. In that national election the black electorate rallied to vote against Barry Goldwater. The repudiation of Goldwater was a stronger voting motivation than the endorsement of President Johnson. But in this year's election black voters voted neither for nor against candidates. (Blacks most strongly motivated to vote for a candidate probably cast their ballots for independents.) The black com munity exercised its constitutional right to vote, period. Richard Nixon now occupies a unique place in the history of American political life. He is a man who has literally had the taste of the Presidency in his mouth for 16 years and he has finally won the nation's highest political honor. To do so he had to survive both a defeat on the national level in 1960 and the rejection of California voters in his subsequent gubernatorial bid. He has calculatedly administered self-respiration to his political image after having been pro nounced politically dead by analysts the country over. NIXON KNEW that he could not enlist massive support from the black community during this year's Presidential bid. Nor could he expect to win the favor of disenchanted young voters who originally supported Eugene McCarthy or Bobby Kennedy. But youth and blacks comprise only about 25 percent of the total electorate and Nixon knew his strength must come from the remaining 75 percent. Nixon also knows that it will be a different ball game in 1972. And it is also safe to assume that he will not be privately content with a one-term Presidency. The Republican Party now ranks third in commanding the allegiance of regisred voters in this country, trailing the Democratic Party and registered independents with, a total registration of about 24 percent. By the 1972 elections, millions of new voters will have been registered from the black community and from the ranks of youth, both black and white. It is safe to assume that increasingly alienated youth will not be registering into either of the two major parties. Thus Nixon will face that elec tion year (barring the unleashing of unpredictable circumstances which have become increasingly commonplace in this country) as the incumbent President of a part representing less than 20 percent of the total electorate. He will need the support of both blacks and youth. NIXON MUST begin immediately to do what Vice-President Humphrey urged upoa the voters in his own behalf during the campaign established a climate of trust in this country. But trust dare not be requested until grounds for it have been demonstrated. Nison can be the first man in American histey to show that young voters and black voters will - pport the Republican party when it is warranted, if Nixon establishes a trust fund of concrete action in the next 2 years, he has every reason to expect returns on his investment for the Republican Party in the Congressional elec tions of 1970. Blacks and youth will be watching the Nixon administration for signs of trust. Nixon would do well to immediately espouse the cause of the American Indian. These native Americans have been victimized by a unique brand of oppression which continues to be perpetuated by governmental fiat. A strong Nixon move on behalf of justice for the American Indian would begin to inspire trust in other minority communities. From a base of taking treaties with the Indians seriously and action to improve the educational, housing and health conditions of the Indian community, Nixon should then move to act on behalf of Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, blacks and other op pressed minorities. , In my telegram of concession to Mr. Nixon, sent in the wee-small-hours of post-election morn, I urged him to act immediately to establish a climate of trust. The partial contents of that telegram follow: "YOUR LEADERSHIP in the next four years will determine if our government win regard in justice at home to be as dangerous as Communism abroad. If the power of your high office is used to set moral standards in which a citizen's right to human dignity is enforced as strictly as the collection of income tax then American democracy will set an example for the world to follow. "The millions of people emerging from col onialism in Africa and ABia are watching not only the struggle of black people, Mexican-Americans and Puerto Ricans to obtain their fair share of America's future but particularly the treatment of our Indian brothers who are the Indigenous heirs of the territory we now claim as the United States of America. "I urge you to undertake as your first order of business the restoration of rights granted under the original treaties to native Americans who have ben denied their freedom for generations while in the name of that freedom we undertook wars aboad to free native pitalittBs Lorn the op pression of Communism