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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 6, 1972)
editorial o a v. i I I i PARTICIPATE TOBS WEEK! Wait and see The debate centering on balance between conservative and liberal, the abridgement or sustainment of freedom of speech, and the use of mandatory or voluntary student fees comes to a climax this week as the Conference on Justice in America begins today. Throughout discussion of the controversial conference chairman Dennis Berkheim has maintained that the conference will contain a "full spectrum of opinion". Berkheim has hopes to bring the University, community a "truly worthwhile and educational experience" with a desire to "examine justice in America on both the local and national levels." . Now it comes time for everyone to assess the program in terms of its worth to each individual attending. On the other side of the coin, the entire community will soon see what effect the conference will have on the state legislature, the fate of LB 1271 (dissolving student fees) and the Board of Regents. The entire conference will be scrutinized closely. One can easily imagine that state senators, regents, community folks, and so on will be present in the audience. There still remains to be "seen, however, any positive statement of the educational worth of any conference with this format. One can easily wonder what educational relevance folk dancing and community suppers have to the topic "Justice in America." It is a questionable assumption likewise, that conference viewers and participants will remain interested the entire eight days of the conference. The solutions for these problems can only come after the fact. Final opinions pertaining to the conference's success, and subsequently, evidence of any legislative repercussions, will be forthcoming. It is hoped that, against all odds, the World in Revolution Conference is an educational success and that the Legislature chooses to recognize it as just that. Rah rah runners Everyone usually has a hard time keeping tabs on the No. 1 team. This weekend, however, the track team literally ran awj.y with the Big Eight Track Meet in Kansas City. Scoring 46 of their total 46 13 points on the track events alone managed to put them irr front of the other schools for the remainder of the meet. Although usually heralded with little glory upon such a big accomplishment, Coach Sevigne's thinclads this time deserve a tremendous round of applause (and then some). Barry Pilger michoel (oj.) nelson Michael (O.J.) Nelson, a junior majoring journalism, is a Daily Nebraska n staff writer. in When the now-famous "Jesus Movement" hit the West Coast, it was glorified as much as its followers glorify Christ Himself . However, earlier rumblings of such a movement in Nebraska went unnoticed in the local linotypes. There is little doubt as to why one gained notoriety while the other remained virtually anonymous. California, in the last 50 years, has become in the eyes of many, a reincarnation of Sodom and Gomorrah . -Meanwhile, Nebraska has remained unswerving in its allegiance to the ghostly powers of the air. As the West sampled all the forbidden fruits, our own populace thrilled to the voice of George Beverly Shea. The local intelligentsia lived in fear that they might be overcome by the demonic onslaught. Each night they dreamed of Lot Angeles and San Francisco being struck by fire and brimstone, :nd awoke frustrated to find only momentary sat iff act ion in remembering the election of Ronald Reagan. .But neither time nor politicians could stop the heartlands from craving something more racy than "All Star Wrestling." So across the state city fathers armed with court orders and the knowledge that might makes right went out to do battle with the Satanic hordes. They closed down topless bars, adult art theaters and other instruments of the devil. As they went about their saintly labors, one could almost hear them cry beneath their breath: "Get thee behind me!" In such a climate, does it seem so unlikely that a fervent evangelical movement could develop? Indeed, the present revival is only in the greatest tradition of our people. It is heir to the hogwash and bilge which gushed forth from the chautauquas which converged on our state half a century ago. The quiet singing of the old hymns and the deep-throated sermonizing are both remnants of the turn-of-the-century faith peddler. Beyond similarity in style, this campaign against sin has two other characteristics which narken back to earlier revivals. It is both superstitious and a political cop-out. All religions boast a certain amount of irrationality. However, this modern discipleship has more than its share. In many ways it's more of an insult to Christian intelligence than the theory of papal infallibility. Much of it recalls the spiritualism of the late 60' s with its Ouija, tarrot cards and other such whim-wham. What modern man could take seriously the idea of "casting out a demon?" They do. Who could see any value in the gibberish of one "speaking in tongues?" They do. These bogus apostles, with their fundamentalists blustering preach a philosophy which could set mankind back hundreds of years. It offends people of contmon sense and discourages its followers from involvement in political affairs. Where John Kennedy said, "On mis earth, God's work must fasfy be oar own, the Jesus freaks urge one to "put your faith in Jesus and everything will be all right." It is a reaction to the politician! of the last decade. Its followers refuse to accept responsibility for the fate of their fellow man. During the post-World War I decade, farmers were starving in the midst of plenty. Yet they flocked to the revivals. "Put your faith in Jesus and everything will be all right." For 100 years after the Civil War, the black man listened to his preacher: "Put your faith in Jesus and everything will be all right." Since 1964, well-meaning parsons have urged their flocks to pray for peace in Vietnam. The first troop withdrawals might have been partially due to heaven-bound petitions, but a million people marching in the streets didn't hurt any. The Jesus movement is a political cop-out. If social ills afflict the nation, they do not encourage people to change things. No, they simply say that death, illness and injustice are "God's will." Such an attitude is not only pathetic and insufferably naive, but it does the Almighty a terrible injustice. The hocus-pocus and mysticism of this "revival" is misleading many young people who believe that they have at last found something meaningful. But Christianity hliould be more than jibbering and hawking God on a street corner. Its basis is love of God and one another. This love is manifest in action that is taken on another's behalf. Christianity is action, not singing chorus on chorus of "Amazing Grace." The Jesus movement, founded on superstition and non-involvement, has been called by many of its converts "the greatest trip of all". But so was Zen, student activism and Haight-Ashbury. A belief based on emotionalism, not rationality; myths, not facts; and love of God without true love of man could well go the same way. It would be sad to see thousands totally reject the ideals of Christianity when they see that all they have is the words and not the substance. How hard it could be to come to the end of the "greatest trip of all" and see your deepest beliefs shattered in the harsh light of reality on Zero Street. PAGE 4 THE DAILY NEBRASKAN MONDAY, MARCH 6, 1972
