The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, February 10, 1977, Page page 4, Image 4
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