Faculty Focus
First in a series of articles
expressing views of NlJ1 professors
by PHIL SCRIBNER
Centennial College and Dept. of Philosphy
Not many realize it yet, but a new and
outrageous casualty of the war in Vietnam must
be recorded: The death of the national commitment
to civil rights.
A few years ago the horror of the Vietnam
war was only beginning to sink in. Most humanist
politicians had been preoccupied with the methods
of programs for achieving equality of opportunity
and political rights for all our citizens.
We debated the effectiveness of legislation as
compared to economic means. But in that debate
we were certain of our commitment and secretly
proud of the little progress which had been made.
We knew, of course, that there were enormous
obstacles and major setbacks in the future. But
we rested comfortaably in the absolute certainty
that the goals we sought were indelibly inscribed
on the national agenda.
WITH THE WAR came the reluctant realiza
tion that domestic programs would be postponed
for awhile. But the full costs of the war, of LBJ's
political demise and of Nixon's eager pallbearership
are only now beginning to be apparent.
The commitment to civil rights, to political
and social equality, to equal educational and
economic opportunity has been abandoned. The
essential commitment in American politics is gone.
Some of the moves which have already been made
make this clear enough.
The voting rights act has virtually been
repealed by expanding its commission, reducing
its powers and cutting its funds.
The Justice Department has ceased to initiate
legal action to realize civil rights and has spent
the last seven or eight months seeking court
decisions to avoid integration.
The leaders In the civil rights divisions of
both the Justice Department and HEW have been
forced to resign.
Nixon's nominees to the Supreme Court have
been far more sympathetic to preserving the re
maining vestiges of segregation and discrimination
than securing equal rights for all citizens.
Federal cutbacks to stem inflation have fallen
largely on the black and the poor while the Defense
Department continues to receive funds for expensive
and useless new weapons systems.
In admittedly ambiguous statements the
President has come out against bussing to achieve
integration or racial balance.
The Justice Department has led a campaign
to wipe out the Black Panthers as a lesson to
other civil rights activists or dissidents.
OF COURSE the President has not yet gone
on national television and announced his new policy.
But he has embarked on it nevertheless. The effect
has been to thwart any further moves for integration
and equal rights while deluding the population into
believing that such efforts are still going on.'
Spiro's continual insistence on "quality education,"
as opposed to equal education, is a code no
Southerner can fail to miss.
I need not rehearse the elements of the Southern
Strategy for Nixon's reelection. Its outlines are
far too clear. At least it is obvious that Nixon
is not relying on civil rights liberals, blacks, anti
war activits and the like for his reelection.
I do not mean to imply that our President
is a racist or segregationist. He is merely a master
of the expedient and the demagogic. He knows
that the dispute over the war has so depleted
the reservoir of good will and trust among
7W
Ml
Our Mam
Moppe
by Arthur Hoppe
"The South Vietnamese government
announced plans to build a Disneyland-type
attraction In the Saigon area to attract
tourists. The project will be financed by
West Germany" news item..
IT WAS in the 43rd year of our lightn
ing campaign to wipe the dread Vlet-Narian
guerrillas out of West Vhtnnng. Morale
in the capital of Sag On was low.
"At the rapid rate America is
withdrawing her troops," said Premier I loo
Dat Don Dar morosely, "the last G.I. will
be on his way home in only twelve more
years. We shall sorely miss them."
"Particularly those of us in the bar
and restaurant business," said the Finance
Minister, General Nho Diem G h u d .
"Without these bottle-scarred, two-fisted
drinking men to support us, the whole
country will go broke. What will we do?"
"Follow me," said General Pak Opp
Ngo, a born leader.
"Walt, cousins!" said the Recreation
Director, General Ghet Sa Lot. "Allow me
to introduce a foreign consultant, Heir
Gottfried von Krumm. He has a plun to
save us."
VON KRUMM bewed, clicked his heels
and disclosed the solutios in a sigle word:
"Disneyland!"
"Another insrutable Oriental nut,"
muttered Vice Premier Hoa Dat Opp Dar
under his breath. But as von Krumm talk
ed, Interest mounted.
"We shall call It 'Auntie Kommie
Land,' he said. "Each tourist will pay
a handsome fee to a General at the g a t e
half of which the General will put in
the till, and the other half in his pcoket.
"Once inside, the tourist will be offered
number of exciting rides. He will pay
once for each ride at the beginning. Then,
midway through,! Vlet-Narlan guerrilla In
black pajamas will collect again at gun
point. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1970
"THE FEATURE attraction will be a
towering papier-mache mountain, known as
Cheeseburger Hill. The tourist will be
given the challenge of trying to struggle
to the top on foot against innumerable,
overwhelming obstacles."
"And if he reaches the top, he gets
a prize?" asked General Wyn Na Phieu
politely.
"No, he gets carried down on a
stretcher," explained von Krumm. "And
there are a number of other attractions,
like the exciting Tonkin Gulf ride aboard
a simulated destroyer."
"What happens on that?" asked
General Lu Sa Phieu.
"Nothing said von Krumm. "But It
sets the stage for the Simulated Bombing
Runs, complete with Simulated Napalm.
The tourist can then visit quaint, authentic
Gookland, where he can set fire to a quaint,
authentic native hootch with his own
cigarette lighter.
"WE WILL ALSO have several intrigu
ing gambling games such as the Black
Market Game the Buy a Loyal Leader
Game and the Win the Hearts and Minds
of the People Game. Naturally, the
Americans can never win.
"Today Vhtnnng, gentlemen," conclud
ed von Krumm with a brisk salute,
"tomorrow Anaheim!"
"AN INTERESTING Idea," said
Premier I loo dubiously, "but will it work?"
"Our studies prove conclusively that
such an attraction will draw two million
Americans who will spend $100 billion,"
said von Krumm confidently.
"On an enterprise where they get
nowhere and never win?" said Premier
I loo with surprise. "What did you base
your studies on?'
"The last ten years of the war," said
von Krumm.
The contract was signed on the spot.
Americans that the far more difficult course is
to continue to lead the country toward racial
justice.
IT IS DIFFICULT to discover an appropriate
strategy to oppose Nixon's reversal of national
goals. Nixon has looked into the soul of this country
and read its contents accurately.
He has found that there is an untapped and
growing supply of hatred and fear in this country
which can be put to his own political advantage.
He is not a malicious man on this count. He
is merely a clever politician whose own power
is more important than the interests of his coun
trymen. How far and how fast Nixon will go to frustrate
the legitimate demands of black Americans is not
yet clear. He will almost surely appoint additional
members to the Supreme Court in accordance
with the principle that a court, all of whose
members believe in civil rights, cannot be balanced
and impartial.
Attorney General Mitchell ' is practicing hi3
techniques of repression on draftable students and
anti-war activists as well as blacks. There are
surely a few more departments working for civil
rights whose budgets can be cut and a few more
civil rights laws which can be diluted.
NO SERIOUS opposition should be expected
from the Democratic Party. They have remained
quiet so far. And as clever politicians, they realize
that there are far more popular issues with which
to attempt to undercut Nixon's support the war,
inflation, etc. The blacks will again pay the price
of America's cowardice.
Only a fool would treat these indications lightly,
and only a racist would welcome them. The time
may come sooner than we like to decide which
side we are on.
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THE DAILY NEBRASKAN
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