editorial
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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
