ddly ncbrrcksn
tftursday, fcbruary 10, 1977
s j""
! 1 ' "
Arthur tJcr!3
m m
tribal art swings in Palm Springs
Gerald R. Ford, who used to run the country for. a
has now decided to move here.
Many people say they feel that Palm Springs is as
pretty as Las Vagas and the local architecture certainly
compares favorably with Barstow, Tonopah or even
Carson City. The surrounding mountains are at least as
innocent bystander
mountainous as the vast majority of mountains in the
Great Southwest and the desert, which stretches as far as
the eye can see in certain directions, offers a boundless
variety of fascinating sand.
The mild climate, which ranges from an average low of
39 degrees in January to an average high of 1 07 degrees in
July, is ideal for the cultivation of artificial flowers that
bloom in profusion in every Irving room, patio and
restaurant '
It is hard to believe that as little as 100 years ago the
only inhabitants of Palm Springs were the Niblik Indians,
probably one of the .most primitive tribes on the North
American continent.
Armed solely with crude wooden clubs and small
round rocks, these primitive people were primarily
occupied in raising grass.
Each morning the Nibliks would arise and wander
about their fields of grass aimlessly striking their rocks
with their clubs while muttering, walling and cursing.
They would thus carry on unto darkness fell when they
would repair to their huts to gorge themselves on alcohol
and tasteless food until rendered unconscious.
They were therefore no match for the first white
settlers led by Col. Jacob Parr (whose name is still revered
locally) - the newcomers being equipped with such tech
nological advances as the. steel-shafted five iron and the
gutta-percha ball.
And so the Nibliks lost their land, mostly through press
bets, and have vanished into the pages of history, not
being able to afford even a motel room in nearby
.'Thermal :
Today, less than a century later, Palm Springs boasts
a population of 30,000 people, several of whom are even
younger than Mr. Ford. Of these 212 are engaged in
manufacturing, approximately 10JOOD use the service en
trances and the remainder devote their days to playing
golf and their evenings to cocktail parties and dining out.
To some, this may sound like a somewhat pointless
way of life for the former leader of the Free World. But
one should always bear in mind the perceptive saying of
the ancient Niblik Indians, "Ai-eeta Pai-ah Pai-ah" or
in English, "What the hell else is there to do around
here?"
(Copyright Chrontd Publishing Co. 1977)
f.K r "
i iit in ! s i ki . i
I i in. 1 1 urn iMi i -ii ''"'
Boffo toasts 'good job'
with friends at Milkbar
It took some searching, but Biff Boffo was finally
found.
Eiff and his three droogs were- down at the Korova
Milkbar hitting the old moloko. Uneasily, I slid into a seat
opposite Eiff, trying to make up my rassoodock whether
or not to Interview him.
"Biff," I asked, "Why do you spend your time here?"'
"Well," Eiff answered, "I actually hear more suggest
ions and input from students here than back at school.
Besides, I like the place. Have a mZk plus."
Oh, my brothers, if you could have but viddied the
position I found myself in. His droogs looked much too
warp nine
eager. Tangling with them would push the old ultra
violence" right off the jolly map.
I decided not to ask too many questions and let Biff do
the talking. ,
Biff was concerned about his job. He told me students
just didnl have enough interest in their student govern
ment It was very hard to represent students because they
never told him what they wanted, he said,
"Did you ever ask?" I said.
One of his friends began to growl in my direction. I
dropped the question.
"As I was saying," Biff continued, "I really think that
it is the conservative nature of the students that explains
why there is so little interest. That means that they're
satisfied. So we must be doing a good job."
Perhaps they didn't care, I suggested.
"Of course, they do, brother. Look at all of the
services we provide. There's the Free-For-A-Fee Univer-
exchange that no ens uses and a news
letter to inform the students about upcoming regents
meetings. We're a real government. We do Real things.
He was always "aware" of people who did not like
him, he said, smiling. Suddenly I felt very uncomfortable. "
"I really felt good about nailing some of those people
in the last election," he rambled. "But they are still my
friends. Right, brothers? His droogs nodded in agree
ment. I mentioned the election.
The Greek Slate was very successful in the last
election," he said. "But after I was in office I tried to
separate myself from it. After all, winning is what
counts." " , "'
Biff added that he didn't want to be identified as a
Greek politician. "Calling me a politician is good enough."
What about his position as a student regent?
"My brother, the Regents are really a good bunch of
droogs. I was surprised, truly, at how much they did know
about our university.
""You see, they got used to the idea of having a non
voting studest regent when they found out we had the
right attitude. They would even let me talk if I held up
my hand first And I smiled a lot and nodded my head at
meetings. That really impressed them."
"Just what is the right attitude?" I said.
That everyone has the right to life, liberty and the
pursuit of complimentary football tickets." He reflected
for a moment If they know the ropes."
'Roots' Saturday morning cartoon compared to history
I have recently been confronted with questions con
cerning the television showing of the book "Roots" which
was shown in eight consecutive nights and was also the
most-watched televised program. It seems as though some
persons refused to except the validity of the story. There
fore I feel obligated to attempt to enlighten my fellow
collegians in areas concerning blackwhite relations during
the history of America, with special emphasis on slavery
days.- .
During slave days the hierarchy of importance was con
structed with man on the top, next came the cows, horses,
pigs, and other valuable livestock, then material posses
sions such as, a wagon, a buggje, clothes, and possibly a
little ribbon, and next there were a couple of domestic
animals like a cat and dog, and then last but not least were
to escape, conditions didn't seem that bad to me. The
show "Roots" was a Saturday morning cartoon compared
to the way it really was in those days. In addition, c'res
were not allowed to run away several times before they
were dealt with, partially because most of the time they
were caught (in most cases) by slave catchers who loved to
amputate various parts of the body. As a matter of fact,
they were especially fond of casterating slaves. But, these
were the good conditions we raved about.
Also during reconstruction black people were killed by
the 100,000s. It seems as though lynehings were a specta
tor sport for Southern whites during this time.
Throughout American history there have been a number
of genocidal attempts on black people. Such as, the
Tuskegee study in which 400 black men were injected
with syphilis to study the long- and short-term effects of
the disease. And further I don't think the United States
has made any progress since slavery days. Black people are
still working the whiteman's factories for little or nothing,
living in the worst housing, being neglectedrejected, and
pushed aside. White people are still buying the big cars
while we drive them, cook for them, and pick up the
trash. '
There is only one thing separating the past and the
present, and that is that in the past these things were open
and legal, now it's just open.
Black people are a proud people with bonds of strength
woven throughout their past heritage and we know it's got
to end sometime.
Qyde Stearns is an Omaha junior majoring in educational
psychology and special education.
guest opinion
the colored people, the black people, tlte. darkies, the
spooks, niggers, and coons as they were known in those
Slaves were not considered human and thus, they were
not treated as humans. Slaves were brought over in slave
ships packed so tightly that you couldn't fart unless some
one died, thus making extra room. A slave was not worth
as much as a good dog in those days. Slaves were kept in
confined sleeping quarters with dirt floors and maybe a
lantern or two.
People have actually come uo to me and said things
like, I don't understand why Kunta (Toby) kept trying
JjD UKE TO TRY
mug mim m
Li III F JETJ5
mm u ppte
I 3eL, VI
i - . Z. I WnW ,)
soi mzK mjorj
WST&J.
I I
W ' t It "X.
SV2S ABOUT
SWE ASA
mu oil
mJKER.
I imrr sol
I AS
riX USE
